you’ll be the man i will always look up to. i know you are my baby brother but you have always been a man among boys in our family. we will make sure for generations to come that all kranzs know how beautifully you lived, and how high the bar you set for us. you were always our ‘barometer’ for doing the right thing in every situation.
my children will tell their children about how they should live like uncle marty and you will be our point of reference. you will be our example. there will not be a day that goes by that you will not be on our minds.
thank you for getting out of the suburban to hug me when you guys dropped me off at the airport in fargo. i told you not to. thank for not listening to me.
Just wanted to write about how great of a person Marty was. Was very close to the Kranz family for years,and it was a joy getting to know them all. They are all people who would be there for a friend in a drop of a hat, and Marty was no different!! Marty was involved in most leagues that I ran for the Boys and Girls Club, and was one of the willing High School sports stars that would take the time out to come to instructional leagues and help the kids out! He will be missed by man, but God has a reason for everyone, and for Marty it is for us to cherish people like him, and make our lives better, by living the way he lived! You will be missed.
I remember when Mr. Kranz always gave me crap about how much UND stuff I wore to school. So one day I decided to dish it back in Burger King in Brookings after the basketball game. I told him the story about when I went to the Beef bowl for my birthday party quite a few years ago when SDSU was still DII. SDSU normally played UND for the beef bowl and i was a pretty big UND fan because my mom went there for college. So we would normally go every year for the Beef Bowl. That year I took 15 of my friends to that game as well because it was over my birthday weekend. So, UND was down 24-3 going into the 3rd quarter and 27-10 going into the 4th. Then John Bowencamp, who went on to be a 4th stringer for the Vikings, lit on fire and led UND to be down 27-26 as time expired so the extra point was left. UND decided to be gutsy and go for the 2 point conversion to win or lose it all right there. Bowencamp dropped back for a pass and threw it into nowhere and then a linebacker tipped the ball and the UND tight-end came out of nowhere to catch it and UND won and stayed undefeated that year. I told Mr. Kranz that story and he told me, “Toben, you know who tipped that ball?” I was curious and asked, “Yea i want to know, who tipped it?” “I tipped the ball!” He had that look in his eye that meant maybe I should learn what stories to tell and not tell. Everyone of my friends laugh at that story everytime we think of when it happened because it looked like he was about ready to throw me out of the window right there in Burger King!
I don’t know that it’s a “Marty Story” So to speak, but I do want to share this story with Stefanie.
Marty was one of the first people to talk to me after I had moved to Watertown in Junior high, and he would often share encounters with Stefanie.
Stefanie was still in Junior high and we were in 9th grade. I had 9th grade English class with Marty. I sat right next to him, as I did in most classes … the Kranz Kneeland combo almost always ended us up next to eachother.
He would come into class, ask how I was doing, and then we’d talk the entire period about how wonderful Stefanie was. I felt like I knew her so well, just because of how well and affectionatly Marty spoke of her. I know that you were his favorite thing in the whole world.
Marty was a very welcoming person for me. I feel like I was successful in Watertown and in life because of my interactions with Marty.
Thank you for this website, and other various and multiple opportunities to Honor Marty in different ways.
Marty, Marty, Marty….what a little spark plug he was when I first met him. He had the energy of an entire football team and an absolute love of life. My oldest son, Tyler and Marty graduated together and I was around all the years as they grew up watching them in soccer, football and basketball. There was something about Marty. His smile, his friendly ‘hello’, but as a coach I certainly witnessed his competitive fire at a very early age. He would dominate the elementary soccer games. He was everywhere on the football field and he was the biggest ball hawk on the basketball court as a “Skywalker”.
I have been asked by the Kranz family to sit on Marty’s Scholarship selection committee and I am truly honored. If there is one particular characteristic that sticks out about Marty it certainly was his character. Let me tell you one story about Marty’s character. It was his senior year in high school playing for the Arrow basketball team. We were playing at Huron and Marty was having a tough night. Coach Thomas took Marty out of the game in the fourth quarter and never put him back in. Marty was not real happy, he sat at the end of the bench and somewhat removed himself from the team. After the game Marty could have sulked or become distant to his team and coaches, but not Marty. He walked up to Coach Thomas and I and apologized for his actions. He said that would never happen again and he would be the best player and leader on our team the rest of the year. It took a very mature young man to do what Marty did. I’m not sure how many other high school athletes would have had the personal fortitude that Marty demonstrated in this situation. But this was Marty.
Marty had a love for life and that love was easy to return in kind. There was no way you could ever be mad at Marty. As a coach, you certainly hope you can teach your athletes some valuable lessons of life. But, in this case, a great young man was able to teach an old coach some very valuable lessons of life.
Thank you Marty for being part of my life, you will never be forgotten.
It was my junior year which was Marty’s senior year. We were at football practice and it was almost like a goof off day. I was running the up coming teams defense against the Arrows offence. They ran a fumbleruski and Marty happened to be the one who got the ball. He layed me out without missing a step. When the play was over he reached his hand out and helped me get back to my feet. Never have i met an individual such as Marty and i will forever be gratefull that i did.
I always remember the practices with Marty. He always told me to work harder. When ever I made a mistake in a game, he would yell at me because I hung my head and dwelled on that mistake. Marty told me “forget it, its the past. Make it up on defense.” Marty was a great guy, and really showed me what the value of work was. Striving to be your best was just a given when being around him. I will always remember him as a coach, a friend, and just a great guy to look up to!
I have had so many memories of Marty. However, there was a memory I had of him when he was gone.
I was driving to work one morning and I was pretty tired. I ended up dozing off and hitting an approach. As I was in the air, I swear I saw Marty with that grin on his face saying, “what are you trying to do?” I was heading straight towards a light pole. I never turned the wheel, but somehow I was stirred away from that light pole coming to stop about 20 feet away from it. I truly belive Marty was there in that cab guiding me through that crash. I am so thankful to have known a guy like Marty.
Today marks one year since I last saw Marty. I’ll never forget that morning. He was in my kitchen with all of my brothers and my dad eating chocolate chip cookies. We were laughing and joking about how Dad had just changed shirts and already had chocolate all over it. The guys were on their way to Minot, ND to spend a weekend together, just the Kranz Boys. The rest of my brothers and my Dad had stopped through on their way to pick up my brother Mark, who had flown in the night before from Phoenix and spent the night at my house in Fargo. Before they left, Marty hugged me so tightly-the way he always did when he or I was leaving. That’s one of the things I miss the most about him. He gave the most unbelievable hugs. I never doubted how much he loved me, and how important I was to him as a sister. He always made sure I knew that. He always had something nice to say about the way I looked, even when I didn’t believe it about myself.
I miss you brother, more than I can say with words, but I know you are with our King and someday we’ll be together again. Maybe then, I can make you feel the way you always made me feel when we were together. Thank you for always being a source of strength in my life. I am a better person for having learned about how to live life from you.
I remember the first time you came to our shcool. He always laughed at what we did and all the girls thought he was the cuitest teacher ever. I always think that he is still there. He always told me to work harder. When he died it was hard for me. But i said i had to move on i got braver and braver i will never forget about Mr. Kranz!!!!!!!
The Kranz’s was and always will be like a second home to me. Some of the best times of my life were spent growing up with Marto. And as we got older, no matter how long it had been since we had seen each other we would always end up at his house or at mine and it was like we had seen each other yesterday.
I think about Marto every day. I think about the times we had all the time. I miss him, I love him and I pray that I will be able to hang out with him like old times again one day.
Well, I don’t know really where to begin with all the great memories I have of Marty… I always remember the times I would go over to the Kranz’s house when I was a tyke (like grade school age). We would have fun doing whatever us kids do be it exploring, chasing barn swallows with tennis rackets, chasin cows around, riding go-carts, four-wheelers all of that… Then I would be so tired that I would get an excellent nights sleep after playing some super Nintendo (NBA Jams or Mario Go-Cart, or whatever football game) games of course. Well… the next morning would roll around and it would be time to do chores, and to this day I will never know if Marty thought that I was the worlds best sleeper, or the worlds laziest kid (I was very lazy compared to the standard work ethic of the Kranz’s). I was always fake sleeping no matter how many times he yelled and shook me to wake up I never opened my eyes…hahaha! But I gotta hand it to Judy because she made an amazing breakfast fit for the size of Great Kranz family that always got me outta bed. Ol’ Marty he had to have known, I miss everything about those days. I always felt welcome with the Kranz family, and especially so with Marty’s smile. Very carefree and always happy was every single encounter I had with Marty. Even up until the last time I spoke with him. I was off doing some military stuff and I had called home to check up on the family and my parents must have been at some event that he was at and they handed the phone to him. We chatted for a while and had a brief catch up and the last thing he told me, was to “stay safe and take care”. Such a common phrase that we just don’t think twice about, but now one that I think of everyday in his voice. I am glad that I was privileged enough to have grown up with him and feel his presence, even in his absence. I know he is watching over his family, and over his friends and will continue to do so until we get to meet him again. I want to thank Marty, and not only Marty but his absolutely wonderful family as well for all the great and everlasting memories. So Thank you, “Stay safe and take care”, and God Bless…
Two years ago today, you left this world. I find comfort only in striving every day to “live like Marty Kranz”. Of course, I’ve learned those are big shoes to fill. I wish I could tell you how much I respect, love and miss you. I was always so proud to be your big sister; that will never change.
The following song by the band Alter Bridge expresses my love and respect for you.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Thanks for all you’ve done. I’ve missed you for so long; I can’t believe you’re gone. You still live in me. I feel you in the wind. You guide me constantly. I never knew what it was to be alone, because you were always there for me. You were always home waiting. But now I come home and I miss your face so. Smiling down on me. I close my eyes to see. And I know you’re a part of me. And it’s your song that sets me free. I sing it while I feel I can’t hold on. I sing tonight because it comforts me. I carry the things that remind me of you. In loving memory of the one that was so true. You were as kind as you could be. And even though you’re gone, you still mean the world to me. I’ll still love you more tomorrow. And you’ll be here with me still. Everything you did, you did with feeling. And you always found the meaning. And you always will.
markyd
dude
you’ll be the man i will always look up to. i know you are my baby brother but you have always been a man among boys in our family. we will make sure for generations to come that all kranzs know how beautifully you lived, and how high the bar you set for us. you were always our ‘barometer’ for doing the right thing in every situation.
my children will tell their children about how they should live like uncle marty and you will be our point of reference. you will be our example. there will not be a day that goes by that you will not be on our minds.
thank you for getting out of the suburban to hug me when you guys dropped me off at the airport in fargo. i told you not to. thank for not listening to me.
i love you.
Apr 19, 2009 @ 3:51 am
Mike Erlandson
Just wanted to write about how great of a person Marty was. Was very close to the Kranz family for years,and it was a joy getting to know them all. They are all people who would be there for a friend in a drop of a hat, and Marty was no different!! Marty was involved in most leagues that I ran for the Boys and Girls Club, and was one of the willing High School sports stars that would take the time out to come to instructional leagues and help the kids out! He will be missed by man, but God has a reason for everyone, and for Marty it is for us to cherish people like him, and make our lives better, by living the way he lived! You will be missed.
Apr 29, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
Taylor Toben
I remember when Mr. Kranz always gave me crap about how much UND stuff I wore to school. So one day I decided to dish it back in Burger King in Brookings after the basketball game. I told him the story about when I went to the Beef bowl for my birthday party quite a few years ago when SDSU was still DII. SDSU normally played UND for the beef bowl and i was a pretty big UND fan because my mom went there for college. So we would normally go every year for the Beef Bowl. That year I took 15 of my friends to that game as well because it was over my birthday weekend. So, UND was down 24-3 going into the 3rd quarter and 27-10 going into the 4th. Then John Bowencamp, who went on to be a 4th stringer for the Vikings, lit on fire and led UND to be down 27-26 as time expired so the extra point was left. UND decided to be gutsy and go for the 2 point conversion to win or lose it all right there. Bowencamp dropped back for a pass and threw it into nowhere and then a linebacker tipped the ball and the UND tight-end came out of nowhere to catch it and UND won and stayed undefeated that year. I told Mr. Kranz that story and he told me, “Toben, you know who tipped that ball?” I was curious and asked, “Yea i want to know, who tipped it?” “I tipped the ball!” He had that look in his eye that meant maybe I should learn what stories to tell and not tell. Everyone of my friends laugh at that story everytime we think of when it happened because it looked like he was about ready to throw me out of the window right there in Burger King!
Apr 29, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Abby 'Kneeland' Ronnebeck
I don’t know that it’s a “Marty Story” So to speak, but I do want to share this story with Stefanie.
Marty was one of the first people to talk to me after I had moved to Watertown in Junior high, and he would often share encounters with Stefanie.
Stefanie was still in Junior high and we were in 9th grade. I had 9th grade English class with Marty. I sat right next to him, as I did in most classes … the Kranz Kneeland combo almost always ended us up next to eachother.
He would come into class, ask how I was doing, and then we’d talk the entire period about how wonderful Stefanie was. I felt like I knew her so well, just because of how well and affectionatly Marty spoke of her. I know that you were his favorite thing in the whole world.
Marty was a very welcoming person for me. I feel like I was successful in Watertown and in life because of my interactions with Marty.
Thank you for this website, and other various and multiple opportunities to Honor Marty in different ways.
Apr 30, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Dennis Gall
Marty, Marty, Marty….what a little spark plug he was when I first met him. He had the energy of an entire football team and an absolute love of life. My oldest son, Tyler and Marty graduated together and I was around all the years as they grew up watching them in soccer, football and basketball. There was something about Marty. His smile, his friendly ‘hello’, but as a coach I certainly witnessed his competitive fire at a very early age. He would dominate the elementary soccer games. He was everywhere on the football field and he was the biggest ball hawk on the basketball court as a “Skywalker”.
I have been asked by the Kranz family to sit on Marty’s Scholarship selection committee and I am truly honored. If there is one particular characteristic that sticks out about Marty it certainly was his character. Let me tell you one story about Marty’s character. It was his senior year in high school playing for the Arrow basketball team. We were playing at Huron and Marty was having a tough night. Coach Thomas took Marty out of the game in the fourth quarter and never put him back in. Marty was not real happy, he sat at the end of the bench and somewhat removed himself from the team. After the game Marty could have sulked or become distant to his team and coaches, but not Marty. He walked up to Coach Thomas and I and apologized for his actions. He said that would never happen again and he would be the best player and leader on our team the rest of the year. It took a very mature young man to do what Marty did. I’m not sure how many other high school athletes would have had the personal fortitude that Marty demonstrated in this situation. But this was Marty.
Marty had a love for life and that love was easy to return in kind. There was no way you could ever be mad at Marty. As a coach, you certainly hope you can teach your athletes some valuable lessons of life. But, in this case, a great young man was able to teach an old coach some very valuable lessons of life.
Thank you Marty for being part of my life, you will never be forgotten.
May 01, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
Dan Feltch
It was my junior year which was Marty’s senior year. We were at football practice and it was almost like a goof off day. I was running the up coming teams defense against the Arrows offence. They ran a fumbleruski and Marty happened to be the one who got the ball. He layed me out without missing a step. When the play was over he reached his hand out and helped me get back to my feet. Never have i met an individual such as Marty and i will forever be gratefull that i did.
May 01, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
Alex Esche
I always remember the practices with Marty. He always told me to work harder. When ever I made a mistake in a game, he would yell at me because I hung my head and dwelled on that mistake. Marty told me “forget it, its the past. Make it up on defense.” Marty was a great guy, and really showed me what the value of work was. Striving to be your best was just a given when being around him. I will always remember him as a coach, a friend, and just a great guy to look up to!
May 01, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Ryan Effling
I have had so many memories of Marty. However, there was a memory I had of him when he was gone.
I was driving to work one morning and I was pretty tired. I ended up dozing off and hitting an approach. As I was in the air, I swear I saw Marty with that grin on his face saying, “what are you trying to do?” I was heading straight towards a light pole. I never turned the wheel, but somehow I was stirred away from that light pole coming to stop about 20 feet away from it. I truly belive Marty was there in that cab guiding me through that crash. I am so thankful to have known a guy like Marty.
May 03, 2009 @ 3:29 am
Maria Roesch
Today marks one year since I last saw Marty. I’ll never forget that morning. He was in my kitchen with all of my brothers and my dad eating chocolate chip cookies. We were laughing and joking about how Dad had just changed shirts and already had chocolate all over it. The guys were on their way to Minot, ND to spend a weekend together, just the Kranz Boys. The rest of my brothers and my Dad had stopped through on their way to pick up my brother Mark, who had flown in the night before from Phoenix and spent the night at my house in Fargo. Before they left, Marty hugged me so tightly-the way he always did when he or I was leaving. That’s one of the things I miss the most about him. He gave the most unbelievable hugs. I never doubted how much he loved me, and how important I was to him as a sister. He always made sure I knew that. He always had something nice to say about the way I looked, even when I didn’t believe it about myself.
I miss you brother, more than I can say with words, but I know you are with our King and someday we’ll be together again. Maybe then, I can make you feel the way you always made me feel when we were together. Thank you for always being a source of strength in my life. I am a better person for having learned about how to live life from you.
Jun 04, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
Courtney Mack
Marty,
I remember the first time you came to our shcool. He always laughed at what we did and all the girls thought he was the cuitest teacher ever. I always think that he is still there. He always told me to work harder. When he died it was hard for me. But i said i had to move on i got braver and braver i will never forget about Mr. Kranz!!!!!!!
IT WAS THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE WITH MARTY!!!!
Love ya,
Marty Kranz
GOD BE WITH THE KRANZ FAMILY
Jul 14, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Justin Barthel
The Kranz’s was and always will be like a second home to me. Some of the best times of my life were spent growing up with Marto. And as we got older, no matter how long it had been since we had seen each other we would always end up at his house or at mine and it was like we had seen each other yesterday.
I think about Marto every day. I think about the times we had all the time. I miss him, I love him and I pray that I will be able to hang out with him like old times again one day.
Jul 26, 2009 @ 9:46 am
Jeffery Hauck
Well, I don’t know really where to begin with all the great memories I have of Marty… I always remember the times I would go over to the Kranz’s house when I was a tyke (like grade school age). We would have fun doing whatever us kids do be it exploring, chasing barn swallows with tennis rackets, chasin cows around, riding go-carts, four-wheelers all of that… Then I would be so tired that I would get an excellent nights sleep after playing some super Nintendo (NBA Jams or Mario Go-Cart, or whatever football game) games of course. Well… the next morning would roll around and it would be time to do chores, and to this day I will never know if Marty thought that I was the worlds best sleeper, or the worlds laziest kid (I was very lazy compared to the standard work ethic of the Kranz’s). I was always fake sleeping no matter how many times he yelled and shook me to wake up I never opened my eyes…hahaha! But I gotta hand it to Judy because she made an amazing breakfast fit for the size of Great Kranz family that always got me outta bed. Ol’ Marty he had to have known, I miss everything about those days. I always felt welcome with the Kranz family, and especially so with Marty’s smile. Very carefree and always happy was every single encounter I had with Marty. Even up until the last time I spoke with him. I was off doing some military stuff and I had called home to check up on the family and my parents must have been at some event that he was at and they handed the phone to him. We chatted for a while and had a brief catch up and the last thing he told me, was to “stay safe and take care”. Such a common phrase that we just don’t think twice about, but now one that I think of everyday in his voice. I am glad that I was privileged enough to have grown up with him and feel his presence, even in his absence. I know he is watching over his family, and over his friends and will continue to do so until we get to meet him again. I want to thank Marty, and not only Marty but his absolutely wonderful family as well for all the great and everlasting memories. So Thank you, “Stay safe and take care”, and God Bless…
Sep 04, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
Randy Leddy
Most of my memories of Marty are from fishing down at the pond. He could never stop and say HI….. without grabbing a pole.
Sep 22, 2009 @ 12:02 am
Michele (Kranz) Bares
Hey Little Brother,
Two years ago today, you left this world. I find comfort only in striving every day to “live like Marty Kranz”. Of course, I’ve learned those are big shoes to fill. I wish I could tell you how much I respect, love and miss you. I was always so proud to be your big sister; that will never change.
The following song by the band Alter Bridge expresses my love and respect for you.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Thanks for all you’ve done. I’ve missed you for so long; I can’t believe you’re gone. You still live in me. I feel you in the wind. You guide me constantly. I never knew what it was to be alone, because you were always there for me. You were always home waiting. But now I come home and I miss your face so. Smiling down on me. I close my eyes to see. And I know you’re a part of me. And it’s your song that sets me free. I sing it while I feel I can’t hold on. I sing tonight because it comforts me. I carry the things that remind me of you. In loving memory of the one that was so true. You were as kind as you could be. And even though you’re gone, you still mean the world to me. I’ll still love you more tomorrow. And you’ll be here with me still. Everything you did, you did with feeling. And you always found the meaning. And you always will.
Love and miss you,
Michele
Jul 15, 2010 @ 3:17 am