David Robert Martin January 30 ^th , 1972 – May 6 ^th , 2021.

David Robert Martin, 49, of Cook, MN passed away Thursday May 6 ^th , 2021 with his family by his side.

He lost one fight in his life and it was to cancer.

Dave was born to Robert and Linda (Hill) Martin on January 30 ^th , 1972 in Virginia, MN.  He attended Cook High School where he made many of his best friends to this day. Dave worked at his grandpa's sawmill and at the local gas station throughout high school.  Dave attended Eveleth VoTech and received his welding degree where he became a master welder. He graduated with his welding degree in 1990,        the same year he graduated from high school. After graduation he worked for Pope Construction, Hillwood Products, and Viita Excavating. Dave was united in marriage to Shannon Finner on August 29 ^th , 1998 in Cook, MN and spent 23 loving years together.  In 2000, Dave and Shannon built their new house and started Martin Home for Seniors. He went to work for Wayne Transports as a shop foreman a few years later. While working at Wayne Transports, Dave owned two business, DC Sandblasting and Dave Martin Trucking. After injuring his back, Dave had to sell his sandblasting business and later worked at the parts store in Cook. His lifelong dream was to own a dump truck and he accomplished that in 2018 after buying his beloved Peterbilt.  He loved to work and that was shown every day.  He was skilled in many areas and if he didn't know how to do something, he'd figure it out.

Dave loved hunting, fishing, dark house spearing, wood working, camping, singing karaoke, collecting guns and spear decoys, mowing the fields with his favorite big green tractor, and spending time with his family and friends. His proudest accomplishments were raising three successful young men which he could never stop talking about. Dave loved his family more than anything. He became a grandpa on November 20 ^th , 2020.

Dave was preceded in death by his father, Robert Martin in December of 2019, his grandparents Cecil and Goldie Martin and Arne and Lois Hill.

Dave is survived by his wife of 23 years, Shannon Martin; son Dustin (Ashley) Finner and granddaughter Keira; son Damon Finner (Heather Hill); son Cole Martin (Hannah Johnson); Mother Linda Martin; sisters Sara (Pete) Niska, Amy (Rick) Viita and nieces Jenna (Jeffrey) Chaulklin. Macy Viita, and Olivia Niska; and nephew Spencer Viita; and his fur babies Bella, Odie, Snickerdoodle and Chester, numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

Dave's stories will be told for years to come.  His name cannot be mentioned without bringing a story to mind and a smile to your face.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 16, at 2:00PM at the Cook Community Center, Cook, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. To leave an online condolence visit www.mlakerfuneralhome.com