Ninth Generation

211. Marlin James "Perk" MARTEN was born on 29 June 1951 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.³³³ He died on 29 January 2015 at the age of 63 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³³

Obituary Notes: "Marlin “Perk” James Marten, 63, of Tomah passed away peacefully Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at home surrounded by his loving family after battling lung cancer. Marlin was born June 29, 1951, to Orlin and Lillian (Peth) Marten in Sparta. He was baptized and confirmed at St John’s Lutheran Church, Ridgeville, Wis.

Marlin was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, he fulfilled the duties of usher and president of the council for a number of years. Marlin attended Sunny Ridge School until the sixth grade and then went to Tomah Public School, graduating from Tomah Senior High School in 1969.

Marlin fell in love and married his best friend, Linda Brookman, Sept. 26, 1970, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tomah. He was very proud that the farm has been in the Marten family since 1891, and they celebrated this by hosting a party in 1992 for over 300 people. Early years he also worked off the farm for the Tomah Co-op Elevator, he harvested cranberries for Dean Naden, and worked with Charlie Maum’s Plumbing & Heating. In 1989, they sold the dairy cows and Marlin went to work for the Monroe County Highway Department and retired after 23 years in July 2012. Marlin enjoyed bowling, shooting pool and playing softball in his younger years. He played for approximately 20 different teams which encompassed Clifton, Oakdale, Tomah and the yearly tournaments in Melvina, Wis., and Barnes, Wis.

He was an avid hunter, both bow and gun, making several trips out west for elk and mule deer. He also went to Michigan bear hunting with his nephews. Marlin loved all types of fishing, the weather seldom too cold for ice fishing or too hot for open water fishing. Together they enjoyed a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico and Salmon fishing in Sheboygan. Marlin enjoyed his yearly fishing trips to Canada and South Dakota. He loved to watch his football teams, the Packers and Badgers, college and high School basketball, he also watched the Brewers.

After Marlin and Linda quit milking cows they bought a Honda Goldwing motorcycle and they traveled throughout the United States and Canada. They only missed three states due to the winds or heat. They also traveled to London, England, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. Marlin loved to spend time with his kids and his grandkids. He was truly in his element when he could spend time teaching them and the nephews about fishing, farming, the importance of hard work and taking care of the land, hoping they will pass it onto the next generation. He enjoyed following his kids and grandkids in their sporting events, concerts and plays. He was a man of very few words when it can to sentiment, but his actions spoke more than any amount of words could be spoken. He truly loved his family!

Marlin is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda; his daughter, Lisa (Patrick) Shutter, and his son, Brian Marten, all of Tomah; his six grandchildren, Kayleigh Marten (her boyfriend, Jared Ingenthron), Warrens, Wis., Trenton Shutter, Trevor Shutter, Makayla Marten Steidl, all of Tomah, Grace Marten and Wyatt Marten of Oshkosh, Wis. He is also survived by three brothers. Duane (Sharron) Marten, Barnes, Ronald (Judy) Marten, Beaver Dam, Wis., and John (Nancy) Marten, Milwaukee; and three sisters, Luann (Clyde) Shepherd, Detroit, Mich., Lana (Patrick) Adler, Tomah, and Lorene (Dave) Caselton, Letch worth, Hertfordshire, England; sisters-in-law, Jeanette Marten Larson, Black River Falls, Janice (Dennis) Henry, Wanda (Jim) Ashcraft, Lana Brookman (Partner Jerry Roraff); and brother-in-law, Rodney (Joan) Brookman, all of Tomah. He is survived by Linda’s aunts and uncles who meant the world to him, John and Audrey Ferris, Sheridan, Wy., Maxine DeWitt, Tomah, and Marion and Clayton Hansen, Camp Douglas. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Marlin is preceded in death by two children, Stacey Lynn and David James Marten; his parents; two brothers, Gerald and Dean Marten; one sister, Elaine Marten; his grandparents, August and Wilhelmina (Behrens) Marten and August and Caroline (Wappler) Peth; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Merle and Garnet (DeWitt) Brookman; and nephew, Dale Ashcraft.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave., Tomah. Pastor David T. Brandt will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in Oak Grove Memorial Garden. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4 until 8 p.m. Monday at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Tuesday at the church. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.

The family expresses a special gratitude for the wonderful care received at Mayo Cancer Center, La Crosse, the Tomah Memorial Hospital Staff, Dr Schanhofer, the Palliative Care Nurses and the In Home Hospice Staff. Your excellent care and compassion cannot be described in words how much we appreciate your warmth and compassion. Thank you also to Pastor Brandt and Pastor Buch for the home visits, worship and communion and to the Ladies Circle for the treats at Christmas and blanket. And to all our family and friends for the continual prayers, they are greatly appreciated. The family is asking in lieu of flowers, memorials are sent to Tomah Hospice and Palliative Care or Mayo Cancer Center, La Crosse, in his memory.

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Marlin James "Perk" MARTEN and Linda Kay BROOKMAN were married on 26 September 1970 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^100,333 Linda Kay BROOKMAN, daughter of Merle Fredrick BROOKMAN and Garnet Elaine DE WITT, was born (date unknown).

Marlin James "Perk" MARTEN and Linda Kay BROOKMAN had the following children: