Fifth Generation

202. Duane August "Duke" MARTEN³²¹ was born on 28 May 1937 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^321,322,323 He graduated in 1955 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³²² from Tomah High School. He died on 21 March 2021 at the age of 83 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³²¹
Obituary Notes: "Duane “Duke” August Marten, 83, of Barnes and formerly of Tomah, died peacefully at his home, Sunday, March 21, 2021. He was born to Orlin and Lillian (Peth) Marten on May 28, 1937 on the family farm in the town of Tomah.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church.

  While growing up he attended the Sunny Ridge Country School, and was a member of the Tomah Senior High School Graduating Class of 1955. 

After high school he joined the U.S. Air Force. Duke met the love of his life Sharron Ellsworth and on August 17, 1963 they were united in marriage at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Ridgeville by Pastor Berg.  Together they made a beautiful life.  She preceded him in death on July 14, 2019. They enjoyed traveling in their later years, and took trips across America and oversees to visit family in England.  He moved back to Tomah and went to work for H.A. Sime and Associates before moving to Barnes and becoming the owner and operator of VacationLand Surveyor. 

Duke was a past member St. John Ev. Lutheran Church and a charter member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Hayward.  He served as the treasurer of the Barnes Lion’s Club for over 30 years and was active in the pancake breakfast feeds and the softball tournament.  He was a proud Lion. 

He had a 2nd family in the Harry and Joanne Meyer Family.  He was one of the directors of the Tomah Gang, sharing his duties with the other 3 directors, Pat, Dick, and Sterling.  He loved living in Barnes, he enjoyed feeding the deer, squirrels, bears and grandma’s cats.  He would always ask “When are you coming up Nort by Grilleys” and will be remembered for saying “One for the Oya.” Duke was a loving and proud grandpa, he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much.  He enjoyed baby snicks treats and Honeybuns for breakfast.  Duke had a friend in every place he went.  He loved people and people loved him. 

He is survived by his children, Jennifer Marten of Tomah, Julie (Chris) Keene of Tomah, Jeffrey (Jean) Marten of Wilton, and Jill (finance Tom) Marten of Lanesboro; grandchildren, Jessica (Steven) Blankenship, Aaron (Ayaka) Eckelberg, Brittany (Colby) Allen, Katlyn (Jeff) King, Joshua (special friend Alexa) Marten, Justin Marten, Kenneth Buxengard, and Miranda Buxengard; great-grandchildren, Eden, Aspen, and Haven Blankenship and Penelope Allen; brothers and sisters, Luann (Clyde) Shepherd of Detroit, Ron “Bud” (Judy) Marten of Beaver Dam, Lana (Patrick) Adler of Tomah, Lorene (Dave) Castleton of Hertfordshire, Eng., John (Nancy) Marten of Milwaukee, a sister-in-law Linda Marten of Tomah, brother-in-law, Ronald “Joe” (Carol) Ellsworth of Chippewa Falls as well as many other loving relatives and friends. 

In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by his parents; Orlin and Lillian Marten; his in-laws, Homer and Marj Ellsworth, 2 brothers, Dean Marten and Marlin Marten, and 2 infant siblings, Elaine and Gerald.

A Funeral Service will be held at Saturday, March 27, 2021, 11:00 AM at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 21693 County Highway A, Tomah.  Pastor Bob Gerke will officiate.  Burial with military honors will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery with military honors by the Grassmen-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post#201.  
 
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday from 4:00 P.M.  until 7:00 P.M. at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah and Saturday  from 10:00 AM until time of services at the church.  Online condolences may be left at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. There will be a celebration of Duke’s Life that will be held in Barnes at a later date."

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Duane August "Duke" MARTEN and Sharon ELLSWORTH were married on 17 August 1963 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^55,323,324 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Sharon ELLSWORTH, daughter of Homer ELLSWORTH and Marj HITTLER, was born on 31 January 1940 in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, WI.^323,324 She died on 14 July 2019 at the age of 79 in Ashland, Ashland County, WI.³²⁴

Obituary Notes: "Sharron Lee Marten, 79 of Barnes, formerly of Tomah, passed away Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland. She was born January 31, 1940 in Chippewa Falls to Homer and Marj Ellsworth. Sharron met the love of her life, Duane “Duke” Marten in 1963 and on August 17, 1963 they were united in marriage at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Ridgeville by Pastor Berg. Together they made a beautiful life and leave a wonderful legacy to remember her forever.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Duane “Duke” Marten of Barnes, her children, Jennifer Marten of Tomah, Julie (Chris) Keene of Tomah, Jeffrey (Jean) Marten of Wilton, and Jill (special friend Tom) Marten of Wabasha; grandchildren, Jessica (Steven), Aaron (Ayaka), Brittany (Colby), Katlyn (Jeff), Joshua (special friend Alexa), Justin, Kenneth (special friend Storme), and Miranda; great-grandchildren, Eden, Aspen, and Penelope; brother, Ronald “Joe” (Carol) Ellsworth of Chippewa Falls; her extended chosen family, the Harold Meyer Family; as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Orlin and Lillian Marten; brother-in-law, Marlin and Dean Marten; and best friend, Joanne Meyer.

Sharron graduated Chippewa Falls High in 1958 and went on to continue her education at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and moved to Tomah to teach 4th grade at Miller School from 1962- 1965. She loved her cats. They were her furbabies. Sharron also loved to sew making many outfits for her children.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, July 19, 2019 at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 21693 County Highway A, Tomah. Pastor Bob Gerke will officiate."

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Duane August "Duke" MARTEN and Sharon ELLSWORTH had the following children: