Zoel R Martinson

Zoel Martinson passed away on August 29, 2025 at Wellington, CO, at age 92. He was the only child of William & Violet Martinson of Sun City, AZ. He was born on August 20, 1933 at Sisseton, SD. During World War II, Zoel's father was a concrete contractor for several new military airfields being built. So the family relocated at least 3 times a year during the war, & he attended over 25 elementary schools. One time he only attended school for only a half-day since his father's work unexpectedly took them to a different airfield. Always being the new kid at school, Zoel would walk around his ever changing neighborhoods wearing his toy western 6-shooter holster belt set to impress the girls.
In 1946, as his father worked on an air base & the new Air Force Academy, the family moved to Colorado Springs, CO. Zoel attended Colorado Springs public schools & then attended the University of Colorado & graduated from Colorado State University with BS and MS degrees in Physics - just at the dawn of the nuclear power age.
He was employed at the Idaho Engineering Laboratory at Idaho Falls, ID from 1958-1993 where he was involved in nuclear energy research. His research specialized in avoiding & mitigating reactor accidents, including 3-mile island. Zoel was a major contributing author of several published nuclear power research papers & books. After retirement, he moved to Salmon, ID on a small ranch, having cattle and horses. Always drawn to the beauty and serenity of nature, he later built a large log cabin by hand on the Salmon river in Idaho. In 2007, he returned to northern Colorado, residing in Wellington. His hobbies included hiking, dogs, horses, cars, reading, and playing master-level duplicate bridge. Zoel was also an avid sportsman hunter and fisherman his entire life. Pheasant hunting with his dad, hunting with his ever-present hunting dog companions, a 6 X5 Elk bull and a black bear being his most prized hunting memories.
He is survived by his 4 children: Lowell Martinson; Michelle Casuccio of Martinburg, WV; Brian Martinson of Dublin, CA; and Lee Ann Martinson of Seattle, WA; and his 5 grand children.

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