Arden Lee Martenz

It’s with great sadness that I learn of the passing of my cousin Arden,, whom I’ve been trying to contact over the past year via searching all over the internet. We lost contact, and I visited every thread I could find, hoping to find a way to connect and catch up on the years since we last saw each other at Aunt Ruth’s in Washington. I ended up writing a letter addressed to her company, but have heard nothing. When my brother, Lyle, passed away this spring, I knew she would want to know, but I had no way to convey this news. I hope somehow she got the message, as I find now that my niece somehow remained in touch with Traci. I have fond memories of family gatherings when we were little—-Christmases were crowded and noisy, and there was always lots of food. We all took turns hosting each year (all my dads’ sisters and us), and as a child it was a big deal for me. There was no “name drawing”—-no! We got and gave presents to all, so it was quite a haul! LOTS of work for the parents, I realize now!

I will always have the memory of beautiful Arden, poised with a baton, smiling and vivacious. I’m so glad we got to visit again when she came west....hello to her children, whom I knew only as babies...my condolences to all of the wonderful extended family that I know she was so proud of and loved so much.

Frances (Malick) Lehleitner and George Lehleitner

I was deeply saddened to hear of Arden's passing. She was a tremendous support to me as an educator for almost 30 years in her creation of Marco Publishing. Kathie Guild

In the late 1990’s I started to attend the Ohio School Coubselors’ Conference. I quickly learned that the one I would never miss was the MAR*CO presentations that Arden led. They were practical and fun and she always gave a lot materials away. I came back from those with the best ideas that I could use with students. Around 2002, at a conference in which she was presenting, she mentioned that middle school material was scarce. I knew this so I had created my own lessons. She followed up with if anyone has any middle school material to share to let her know. I followed her out the door. I said I have a lot of material and she handed me her card and said, “send it to me”. The first thing I sent was one classroom guidance lesson with 10 lessons in it. Arden wrote back and said she loved it but wanted 10 different group lessons with 10 lessons in each. Oh my, I thought, how can I do this. I did it, she published it and that was the beginning of a long relationship with MAR*CO and Arden. She pushed me to my limits, challenged and motivated me. I ended up writing 5 books for MAR*CO and am working on a sixth. Arden has helped more students than any of us will ever know, because of all the materials that she published. I will be forever grateful to Arden for believing in me and my writings and making a dream of mine come true. She was my role model. Rest In Peace, dear friend.