Biography:

James Oliver “Jimmy” Martin passed peacefully in the arms of his husband early Tuesday, October 20, 2026. He was born March 5, 1943, in Toledo, Ohio, to Mary (Schmitt) and PFC James O. Martin, Jr.

Jimmy was not yet two when his father made the supreme sacrifice at Normandy. Years later, his mother married Richard Heferle, who became a wonderful father to Jimmy and the two younger siblings who followed.

A musical prodigy, Jimmy made his piano debut with the Toledo Symphony at age five and frequently appeared on local television and radio. In the late 1960s, he, his then-wife Dolores, and friends Phil and Marcia Zaugg formed “The Four Of Us,” a musical group that toured the country for years. In 1970, they relocated to the Twin Cities, where Jimmy soon became a sought-after solo performer in local clubs and a pianist and conductor for countless theatrical productions.

Jimmy spent months entertaining on cruise ships, exploring the world along the way. He also loved accompanying other vocalists, sharing the stage with such luminaries as Carmel Quinn, Tony Sandler, Rita Moreno, and Roberta Peters.

Jimmy met Drew Jansen in 1988, and they began their life together on August 28 of that year. In 1991, Jimmy opened Ivories, a fine-dining restaurant and cabaret that showcased exceptional entertainers from the Twin Cities and beyond. He often played three-hour sets, simply because he was having too much fun to take a break. Every Halloween, he delighted in wearing his custom-made Cowardly Lion costume, complete with full makeup, and hiding in the lobby to surprise arriving guests. Although Ivories closed in 2000, it lives on in the memories of those who spent evenings enveloped in the glow of Jimmy’s shimmering light.

Jimmy and Drew married on May 24, 2014, in a backyard ceremony at their suburban Minneapolis home. Soon afterward, they moved to Drew’s hometown of Little Rock, later purchasing a downtown Minneapolis condo where they could spend summers surrounded by Minnesota family and friends.

Jimmy is survived by his husband, Drew Jansen; sons James O. Martin IV (Holly Amundson) and Aaron Martin, both of Minneapolis; siblings Thomas Heferle (Kathleen Smith) of Petersburg, Michigan, and Nancy Zimmerman (James) of Ottawa Hills, Ohio; grandchildren Matthew Martin (Annie) of St. Paul and Mia Phillips of Minneapolis; and three great-grandchildren who were especially precious to him. Jimmy came from a large Catholic family, leaving innumerable beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and others to mourn his passing and
cherish his memory.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved daughter, Nora Eileen Martin. Special gratitude goes to Dolores Noah (James) of Edina, Minnesota; Marcia and Phil Zaugg of Minnetonka, Minnesota; and the owners and clientele of 610 Center in Little Rock, where Jimmy spent his final evening playing trivia, surrounded by loving friends and laughter. And one martini.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) and Stage 13 Theatre Company and School in Little Rock (stage13.org). Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com

“What matters most is that we loved at all…”