Kelly Wade Martin

July 21, 1963  –  July 20, 2025

Kelly Wade Martin

Kelly Wade Martin, 61, of Rosehill in Redmond, Washington, sadly passed away on July 20, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Born on July 21, 1963, in Minot, North Dakota, Kelly was the son of Ralph Herzog and Madeline Kay Fish. He was lovingly adopted by Donald Dean Martin, who became the father that shaped his character and values starting at the age of six—helping him become the honorable, kind man his family and friends will forever remember.

Kelly’s early years took him across North Dakota, Montana, and Tehran, Iran, before his family settled in Bellevue, WA, where he attended Sammamish High School from 10th grade through graduation. Kelly went on to attend Bellevue College, where he pitched for the baseball team, later earning his AA from Evergreen College using the GI Bill.

Kelly lived an extraordinary life. He proudly served his country as Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserve from 1985 to 2004 and was granted the highest level of security clearance. He was actively deployed to Bosnia in 1997 and trained in many countries including Korea, El Salvador, and Germany. He was recognized as an “Expert” rifleman and took great pride in training junior servicemen and women in various military required training classes. His military roles spanned transportation, postal services management, and photojournalism, where he wrote articles for Army publications.

Kelly married the love of his life Lanelle in 1999 and in 2003 he was deployed as a Reservist to Iraq for a two-year assignment as a semi-truck tanker driver to refuel vehicles in the field. His wife Lanelle petitioned for his release so they could start a family, and by the grace of God, it was miraculously granted. His sons Christian and Will soon followed. He said his greatest accomplishment was that of a husband and father.

Kelly’s civilian career was as diverse as it was accomplished: from the Nordstrom shoe department and the opening team at the Bellevue Hyatt, to leadership roles in banking, finance, investments, and insurances at Prudential Financial, U.S. Bank, Key Bank, and IBM. He later retired from IBM Global Finance after a decade of service, managing technology financing for business clients across Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Kelly especially enjoyed golf, tennis, racquetball, baseball, bowling, camping, and fishing, most of which he did with his parents and siblings while younger, then continued the legacy with his own family. He also gave back to his community as an umpire for Little League baseball, youth coach for basketball and flag football—proudly leading undefeated teams at the Kirkland Boys & Girls Club, where he coached his sons, his nephew, and many of their friends.

Kelly cherished time with his family above all. Whether visiting Mom and Dad, siblings and their children at their home in Bellevue, cheering on his sons in Little League, Catholic league basketball, high school tennis, golf, and track, or taking family trips—especially the treasured vacations to visit his wife’s relatives in Hawaii—he built a life rich in love, connection, and laughter.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years (28 total), Lanelle Cababat-Martin; his sons, Christian and William “Will”; his mother, Madeline Kay Martin; brothers Warren (Vicki) and Jason; sister Denise; father and mother-in-law William “Bill” and Bernice Cababat; sisters-in-law Rochelle, Sandra (Tom), Cherilyn, Dana (Craig), and more than 25 nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews from the Martin, Cababat, Mercado, Wilson, Tobosa, and Daligdig families. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Fiechtner and Fish families.

Kelly lived by the virtues of Galatians 5:22—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (though a good piece of chocolate walnut fudge could test that last one).

Kelly was a devoted husband, loving father, caring son/son-in-law, fun brother, true friend, and good neighbor. He had a contagious sense of humor that made others feel instantly accepted in his presence. He never knew a stranger and was gracious and kind to anyone that was blessed to be in his sphere. His kindness, sincerity, and generosity left a lasting mark on all who knew him. Kelly’s memory will live in the hearts of his family and friends forever. One day far away, we will join him in the presence of our heavenly father.