Robert Adam Martinson

After courageously living with Fascioscapulohumeral (FSH) Muscular Dystrophy, Robert Adam Martinson, 29, of Idaho Falls, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, at his home surrounded by family and friends.

A celebration of his amazing life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho. The family will visit with friends from 9:30–10:15 a.m. prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery in Idaho Falls.

He was born Jan. 12, 1988, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Steve and Darcie Martinson. He attended Longfellow Elementary, Taylorview Junior High School, and Idaho Falls High School, graduating with honors in 2006.

He was diagnosed with FSH when he was 6 years old and was in a wheelchair permanently by the time he entered the 7th grade. That didn't stop him from achieving everything he set out to do, including earning a bachelor's degree in computer science from Neumont University when he was only 20 years old. He went on to work for ClearPlay in Salt Lake City and Manwaring Web in Idaho Falls. He also spurred the creation of Thunder Custom Auto, owned by his family. His ideas were seen in several national automotive magazines.

He loved the Minnesota Vikings, NASCAR racing, cutting edge electronics, and building powerful and fast pickup trucks. He designed a custom 1968 Chevrolet show truck with his family and attended the SEMA show with it in 2015. He also roped his entire family into playing fantasy football, winning the championship in 2014.

He had wisdom well beyond his years. He never saw his disability as a roadblock; rather, he chose to dedicate his life to helping and encouraging others by way of a late-night text, an e-mail, sending flowers, buying just the right gift, or offering sage advice. He touched the lives of thousands of people through his strength, courage, wit, sense of humor, intelligence, and his no-excuses attitude. Many people described him as their hero. He had such an impact on everyone around him, quietly teaching us that limitations don't define us and strength comes from within.

His faith in God and his Savior, Jesus Christ, sustained him throughout his life, especially his last few years. He is now free of his earthly body and in the presence of the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his beloved granddads, Jerry Martinson and Kenneth Fuhrman.

Survivors include his parents, Steve and Darcie Martinson of Idaho Falls; three sisters, Amanda Jenson and her husband, Colby, of Idaho Falls, Kendra Vaalemoen and her husband, Justin, of Shelley, Idaho, and Kaitlin Fuhriman and her husband, Caden, of Rexburg, Idaho; a niece, Macie Marie Fuhriman; a nephew, Sawyer Cole Jenson; grandmas Shirley Fuhrman and Beryl McIntire; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, a Go-Fund-Me site has been established at http://www.gofundme.com/roberts-memorial. It was Robert's wish that the funds be used to provide medical equipment to children with disabilities whose families are less fortunate.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at http://www.woodfuneralhome.com.