Obituary
Donald "Don" Joseph Martin, age 91, passed away on July 9, 2025, in Oshkosh, WI. He was born on May 4, 1934, to parents, Gilbert Joseph and Eleanor Catherine (Gundrum) Martin, in North Fond du Lac, WI.
Don graduated from Lomira High School in 1952, where he excelled in football. During his high school years, he took technical college level courses in salesmanship and managed a small grocery store on Old Highway 41 in the evenings. His scariest moment was working there and getting robbed at gunpoint one evening.
He was united in marriage to Laura Vera Hunter on May 21, 1955. Together they raised three children until their separation in May of 1980. Don served 3 years as a Paratrooper, first at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the 101 st Airbourne and was later transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his service, he was on duty as an MP, who would search the hills of Tennessee for AWOLS and also worked as a mechanic in the motor pool. His dream was to purchase and live on his own small farm. That dream came true in 1971.
After his military service, he went on to further his education at the University of Education- Stevens Point, and later to the University of South Dakota-Brooking, earning his master's degree and PhD in Rural Sociology. In 1970, he began as a Professor of Sociology/ Social Work. He received the UW Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award and 3 years after he started, he became a chairman. Don retired as a Sociology Professor in 2003, after 33 years. In honor of his retirement, the Sociology Department created an annual scholarship to a deserving student.
He is survived by his children, Norman J. (Janet) Martin, Mark J. (May) Martin and Michael J. Martin; grandchildren, Theodore "Ted" (Lexi) Martin and Thomas "tom" Martin; great-grandchildren, Cece Martin; loving partner, Patricia Reimann; mother of children, Laura Martin; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Gilbert Joseph and Eleanor Catherine (Gundrum) Martin; siblings, Eleanor (Valentine "Val") Zibung, Geraldine V. (Norman Olsen and then Gordon Day) Olsen-Day, Eileen A. (Elroy) Luedtke, Marietta P. (Dan) Scheid, Gilbert A. (Jan) Martin and Louis (Patricia) Martin.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Kwiatkowski Funeral Home, 425 Jefferson Ave, Omro, WI, from 10:00am to 12:00pm, with service to follow at 12:00pm.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Residence Inn and Aurora Hospice for their care.
Don graduated from Lomira High School in 1952, where he excelled in football. During his high school years, he took technical college level courses in salesmanship and managed a small grocery store on Old Highway 41 in the evenings. His scariest moment was working there and getting robbed at gunpoint one evening.
He was united in marriage to Laura Vera Hunter on May 21, 1955. Together they raised three children until their separation in May of 1980. Don served 3 years as a Paratrooper, first at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the 101 st Airbourne and was later transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his service, he was on duty as an MP, who would search the hills of Tennessee for AWOLS and also worked as a mechanic in the motor pool. His dream was to purchase and live on his own small farm. That dream came true in 1971.
After his military service, he went on to further his education at the University of Education- Stevens Point, and later to the University of South Dakota-Brooking, earning his master's degree and PhD in Rural Sociology. In 1970, he began as a Professor of Sociology/ Social Work. He received the UW Oshkosh Distinguished Teaching Award and 3 years after he started, he became a chairman. Don retired as a Sociology Professor in 2003, after 33 years. In honor of his retirement, the Sociology Department created an annual scholarship to a deserving student.
He is survived by his children, Norman J. (Janet) Martin, Mark J. (May) Martin and Michael J. Martin; grandchildren, Theodore "Ted" (Lexi) Martin and Thomas "tom" Martin; great-grandchildren, Cece Martin; loving partner, Patricia Reimann; mother of children, Laura Martin; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Gilbert Joseph and Eleanor Catherine (Gundrum) Martin; siblings, Eleanor (Valentine "Val") Zibung, Geraldine V. (Norman Olsen and then Gordon Day) Olsen-Day, Eileen A. (Elroy) Luedtke, Marietta P. (Dan) Scheid, Gilbert A. (Jan) Martin and Louis (Patricia) Martin.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Kwiatkowski Funeral Home, 425 Jefferson Ave, Omro, WI, from 10:00am to 12:00pm, with service to follow at 12:00pm.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Residence Inn and Aurora Hospice for their care.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Martin, please visit our flower store.
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