Dennis Dale Martin

Dennis Dale Martin, son of Dale Ernest Martin and Sylvia Ethel Schrock Martin, was born March 5, 1952, in Elkhart, Indiana. He died of heart failure at Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Illinois, October 26, 2015. He graduated from Bethany Christian High School (1969), attended Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, and Philipps-Universitt, Marburg, Germany, and completed a BA degree in history at Wheaton College, Illinois (1974). He earned a MA degree in history at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in 1975. As a Fulbright-Hayes scholar, he studied at Eberhard-Karls Univeritt, Tbingen, Germany, and earned a PhD degree in history in 1982, at the University of Waterloo. His dissertation focused on the monastic and mystical theology of the fifteenth century Carthusian theologian, Nicholas Kempf. He married Carol Ann Nearpass, daughter of Walter L. and Helen C. Nearpass, on May 3, 1980, at Rutherford Bible Chapel, in Rutherford, New Jersey. She survives, along with two brothers, Gary E. (Patricia), Goshen, Indiana; and Stanley W. (Julie), Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale (August 11, 2003), and Sylvia (January 16, 2013), and a brother, L. Brian (Sue), May 10, 1998. At the time of his passing, Dennis was Associate Professor of Theology and a member of the Graduate Faculty at Loyola University, Chicago. Prior to coming to Loyola in 1991, he was Assistant Professor of Church History at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, and co-edited The Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, and The Brethren Encyclopedia. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Research in the Humanities at University of Wisconsin-Madison (1990-91), and Visiting Scholar at the Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame, Indiana (1989-90). Dennis was a faithful member of St. John Cantius Church, Chicago, where he led the Communion group. He was an active member of the Lumen Christi Institute, a project of Chicago area Catholic scholars, based at the University of Chicago. Dennis' pursuit of scholarship began in childhood, and led to a career focused in medieval monastic history and spirituality. He made numerous trips to Europe where he met his wife, Carol, did research in monastic libraries in Austria, Germany, Yugoslavia and Hungary, and presented scholarly papers. Secondary scholarly interests included the Reformation and contemporary Catholicism. Published works include Fifteenth-Century Carthusian Reform (Brill, 1992) and Carthusian Spirituality (Paulist, 1997), translation of books by Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Heiko A. Oberman's Werden und Wertung der Reformation (translated as Masters of the Reformation), and numerous articles and essays appearing in Theological Studies, Catholic Historical Review, The Journal of the Historical Society, The Journal of the History of Ideas, Church History, Mennonite Quarterly Review and elsewhere. At the time of his death he was writing a book on late medieval Carthusian monastic writers. Throughout his teaching career, Dennis was known by his students for his passion for and thorough knowledge of subject matter, his ability to pass it on, and the high standards he expected of students. Among family, Dennis was appreciated for his genealogical research, knowledge of Elkhart County and national history, and his encouragement of educational pursuits for his nieces and nephews. Whether the history of medieval Europe or recent centuries in Elkhart County, he was intrigued with social contexts. He enjoyed nature, woodworking, music, and collecting stamps. A memorial service was held on All Saints Day, November 1, at St. John Cantius Church in Chicago. A brief time of remembrance will take place on November 24, at 3:00 p.m., as the bell is tolled at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart. His ashes will be interred at Yellow Creek Mennonite Cemetery, Goshen. Donations can be made to The Lumen Christi Institute, 1220 East 58th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. Michalik Funeral Home, Chicago, and Yoder Culp Funeral Home assisted the family with funeral arrangements.