Martin William was born southeast of Knoxville on March 5, 1929, to Anthony and Bertha (Slykhuis) Nunnikhoven, one of seven boys. He went to South Flagler Country School through the eighth grade. He had many stories about life on the farm and school with his six brothers. He enjoyed life and worked hard on the farm and for other farmers. He started working as a full-time hired man in 1949 until he was inducted into the U.S. Army on August 9, 1951. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged on May 9, 1953. Many of those army buddies remained life-long friends.

On January 5, 1950, Martin "winked" at Leona Vander Schaaf, and their story began. A few weeks later, Martin took Leona to Catechism and they began dating. When Martin returned from Korea on a 30-day furlough, they were married on November 6, 1952. They began their married life in Colorado Springs, where Martin finished his service. When they returned home, they lived in Wright, Iowa, and in 1954, they rented a farm southeast of Pella where all four children, David Eugene, Ronald Dean, Diane Ruth, and Michael Ray, were born. They loved life on the farm and worked hard raising their children, milking cows, and raising chickens, sheep, and hogs. In 1969, Martin and Leona bought their own farm northeast of Pella where they lived for forty-two years until they moved into the Pella Manor in 2011.

In 1984, Martin quit farming but still did custom corn-shelling for several years. In November 1988, he started working at Vermeer until November 1999. He worked at the Bos Landen Golf Course mowing from 2000 to 2008 when Martin's health did not allow him to work anymore. He mowed a lot of grass at home - loved it if he could mow some every day! Sometimes he even mowed the neighbors' lawns.

Martin and Leona enjoyed life. He loved her cooking and these last few years was so thankful to her for taking care of him.

Martin always enjoyed his tinkering. He was always "thinking" how he could make something work better and then he would "Martinize" it.

He LOVED his wife, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids so much. He always had a tender heart for the little ones.

Martin was a faithful member of the Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella since 1954. He was loved and respected by the young and the old of his church family, who were very dear to his heart.

Martin was a special son, husband, dad, grandpa, brother, neighbor, and friend. He was a quiet man, but a wise man who always had a one-line joke to tell. He will live forever in our hearts.

Martin's original family consists of (Abraham) and Esther, Marvin and Dorothy, (Wilbur) and Dorothy, Anthony, Jr. and (Bertha) JoAnn, Gerald (Delores) and friend Betty and Merle and Erma Nunnikhoven. Leona's original family consists of (Marjorie) and (Marius) Van Mersbergen, (Harriet) and Abe Nunnikhoven,(Marvin) and (Tressa) Vander Schaaf, (Seymour) and Anita Vander Schaaf, and Cynthia and Henry Lanstraat. Martin is also survived by many special nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his wife, Leona, and his family, as follows:

David and Judy Nunnikhoven
Eric and Trisha Nunnikhoven
Sydney, Logan, Carter, Allison
Holli and Matt Zieske
Caleb, Megan, Willem, Brenna
Mark and Jessica Nunnikhoven
Nora

Ron and Judy Nunnikhoven
Isaac Nunnikhoven
Amanda and Chris Lighthiser
Walt, Amelie
Lance and Leann Nunnikhoven
Noah, Landon
Levi Nunnikhoven
Josina, Lucas
Kyle De Bruin

Diane and Rick Van Gorp
Chad Van Gorp and Stephany Kerr
Michael, Bailey, Aren
Jennifer and Dustin Van Wyk
Trevor, Hunter
Chelsea Van Gorp

Mike and Sherryl Nunnikhoven
AJ and Joy Nunnikhoven
Becky Nunnikhoven
Pat and Aubrey Nunnikhoven
Mikayla Nunnikhoven

Very special friends, David and Karissa Klyn