Martin John Landholm

January 14, 1938 – March 17, 2024
 
Meridian, Idaho- Martin John Landholm, beloved husband, father, brother, fishing buddy and friend peacefully passed away at home on March 17, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 14, 1938, in Hailey, Idaho, to John and Pauline Landholm, and later moved to Filer, Idaho, where he spent his childhood years.
As a Filer Wildcat, Martin met his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Rosalie (Ericson) Landholm, whom he married on January 10, 1960. Their love was evident to everyone around them and their bond was a testament to enduring love and commitment, spanning 64 beautiful years. Over the course of 64 years, they built a career together, a family together and wonderful life together.
Martin pursued higher education with a passion, earning a BA from Idaho State University, a Masters in Education from the University of New Mexico, and a developmental disabilities management certificate from UCLA. These academic achievements laid the groundwork for his lifelong commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in Idaho.
For 18 years, Martin dedicated himself to a distinguished career with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. As a visionary leader, he worked tirelessly to advocate for the de-institutionalization of services and promote community integration, notably at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center, also known as the Idaho State School and Hospital.
During his tenure as Regional Program Manager for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Martin played a pivotal role in establishing regional Adult and Child Developmental Centers across the state. His efforts empowered individuals with developmental disabilities to thrive in their communities, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives.
Martin's commitment to inclusivity extended to sports, as he served as the first Special Olympics Games Chairman for Idaho, playing a pivotal role in bringing the games to Idaho in 1971. His advocacy provided opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to showcase their talents and fostered a sense of unity and achievement.
In 1980, Martin embarked on a new chapter in his career, leaving the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to pursue his goal of privatizing services for individuals with developmental disabilities. In 1983, he established the first privately owned and operated developmental disability agency in Idaho, leaving an indelible mark on the state's social services landscape. For 36 years, he and Rosalie owned and operated Gem State Developmental Center, Inc., providing a nurturing environment for individuals with developmental disabilities while fostering many, many dear friendships.
Martin was one of the five founding members of the Idaho Association of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, advocating for individual choice in accessing appropriate services. Martin's dedication to service was honored with the Building Bridges Award in 2018, honoring his outstanding understanding of the value of inclusiveness in a community.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Martin spent his days on his two other passions:  fishing and family.
An avid fly fisher, Martin's tales of angling adventures were as legendary as his travels.  The number of trophy fish pictures on the walls rivaled the number of children and grandchildren pictures. He not only fished the waters of Idaho with his dear fishing buddies but traveled the world to fish places such as Russia, Mongolia and Argentina.  He was a devoted member of the Idaho Recreation and Park Society, the Henry's Lake Foundation, and the Boise Valley Fly Fishers, receiving the prestigious Boise Valley Fly Fisher Award in 1992 and 1994. Even into his 80s he could be seen in his kick-boat, fly rod in hand and, although he did not have the strength he did as a young man, he still had the beautiful rhythm and precision to set that tiny hand-tied fly perfectly on the surface of the water. The fluidity of the casting proving a life devoted to perfection of an art.
Martin cherished his time with family, building lasting memories with his wife, three daughters, and grandchildren. Their family cabin at Pine Lakes Ranch in Cascade, Idaho, was a cherished retreat where they enjoyed countless adventures and created lifelong bonds. He worked hard to create a beautiful cabin for his family, regularly rolling up his sleeves to work on his yard and was legend to be able to fix anything with duct-tape, at one point even using it to fix a hole in a tire. There were many Martin vs. nature moments, whether it was trying to find over 100 frogs and toads that had gotten loose inside the family cabin due to an insistent daughter who claimed the frogs would be too cold outside and that they would definitely stay inside the box during the night, or whether Martin was trying to hook up another radio or windchime in order to protect his beloved trees or cabin from elk, woodpeckers or tree swallows.
From his childhood on, Martin loved to play games and countless hours were spent with the family playing cards. Martin's competitive spirit shone bright during the family's annual Oh Hell tournament, where he was an eight-time champion, leaving an enduring legacy commemorated by plaques bearing the winners' names since 1990. Holidays were huge family gatherings and were always filled with family and friends. Martin welcomed everyone into his home, was a second-father to many of his daughters’ friends and to know him was to love him for both his compassion and his fun-spirit. He was proudly always up at the crack of dawn to be able to play the first April Fool’s joke and was equally impressed if one was played on him.
Martin Landholm and his smile will be sorely missed everyday by his wife of 64 years, Rosalie Landholm, his daughters Joni (LeRoy) Graham (step-children Ashley and Jordan), Cara (Dan) Emigh (children Drew and Brooke), Paula (John) Kluksdal (children McKenzie, Chase, and Maizy), his sister Carole (Vaughn) Brauer, his brother-in-law Del (Lauralee) Ericson and a host of beloved cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Landholm and Pauline (MaCaw) Haag.
A celebration of Martin's life will be held on April 28, 2024 between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. at Water’s Edge Event Center, 287 E. Shore Drive, Eagle Idaho 83616. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donation be made to Special Olympics Idaho, continuing Martin's legacy of compassion and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.
May Martin’s memory continue to inspire us all to create a more inclusive and compassionate world.