2025 Memorials

Jose Martinez passed away peacefully on July 23, 2025, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was born on June 12, 1926, in Teocelo, Veracruz. He lived a full and remarkable life that took him from his small hometown in Mexico to New York City, where he met his wife, Caryl, and ultimately to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he lived for the last 60 years. His passion for life, his family, his medical practice, and his dog training hobby will be warmly remembered and missed by his friends and family.

Jose was the first in his family to attend college. After graduating from medical school in Mexico City he started a lengthy career as a physician, working for two and half years in rural communities where there were no other medical services available. He then decided to go to New York City to complete an internship and residency fellowship in urology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. While in New York he met and married Caryl.

Jose and Caryl moved to Omaha in 1963. He became the first full-time urologist at the Omaha Veterans Administration Hospital. Moving to Council Bluffs in 1964, he established his own medical practice and served patients throughout Southwestern Iowa, with weekly trips to Harlan and Atlantic for office hours over many years. He loved his work and his patients and he maintained an interest in the advances in medical techniques and practices that took place during his career.

After retiring from his medical practice, Jose continued to provide health services by volunteering at several homeless shelters and clinics. Jose also had the time to fully embrace his dog training hobby. He, with Caryl’s support, won numerous competitions with his golden retrievers and later judged obedience trials throughout the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Jose continued to compete and judge until he was 90 years old. Four of his golden retrievers became obedience champions. After his dog Slammer placed in the top four in the country, Jose represented the United States in an international obedience competition in England. He was proud to represent his adopted country.

Jose was dedicated to his family – his seven siblings and their children in Mexico – and to his devoted wife, Caryl, their two children, and his grandchildren. He and Caryl served the Council Bluffs community through numerous civic and charitable organizations. He loved history, and together with Caryl he traveled the world, with trips to China, Russia, Europe, and Africa. He enjoyed golf, tennis, cycling, cards, woodworking, and many other hobbies. Other than golf, there was almost nothing he wasn’t good at, if he put his mind to it. A gourmet cook and music lover, he had a zest for life, a sharp wit, and a smile that delighted his family, friends, and strangers until his final days.

Jose was beloved by his children and his five grandchildren, each of whom developed a special bond with him. In 2017 he returned to Mexico with one of his grandsons for a visit to his childhood home, reuniting with family and old friends.

Jose is preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Emilia, and five of his seven siblings. He is survived by his wife Caryl and their children: Beth (Jeff) Cohen, Lawrence (Anne) Martinez, Grandchildren Sydney Cohen, Justin Cohen, his namesake J. Alex (Dr. Sonia Ruparell) Martinez, Jack (Hadley Jackson, fiancé) Martinez, and Lindsay Martinez.

A celebration of Jose’s remarkable life will be held later this year.

Any memorials may be directed to the Jennie Edmundson Foundation, 933 E Pierce St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501; the CHI Health Foundation - Mercy Council Bluffs, 12809 W Dodge Road, Omaha, NE 68154; the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

June 12, 1926 ~ July 23, 2025