September 13, 2024 – West Bend, WI -Edward “Ed” Martell, 92, long time resident of West Bend, WI, passed away on September 7 at Prelude Homes and Services memory care in Woodbury, MN.
He was born and raised on a farm in Selz, ND, the third of five children born to Joseph and Katherine Martell. Growing up on the farm instilled in him a strong work ethic and creative problem-solving skills that he carried with him throughout his entire life.
Ed served in the United States Army in Korea until August of 1954 where he earned the rank of Sergeant and was awarded 2 Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantry Badge and The Purple Heart.
He married Rita Muscha on June 27th, 1955. Debbie was born a year later. Times were challenging, Ed leveraged the GI Bill to attend Hanson Mechanical Trade School where he learned Tool & Die Making.
Jobs were scarce in North Dakota and in 1960 Ed and Rita made a bold decision. They sold their trailer house, bought a new car and moved the family that now included 10-month-old Dwight to West Bend, WI.
Following the path of several cousins who had landed jobs with various factories manufacturing farm equipment, they wanted a better life for their children and were bound and determined that their kids would all have a good education.
Once in West Bend, Ed went to work in a factory. He would spend the rest of his working life in various factories continuing to hone his skills as a tool and die maker.
Once settled in West Bend, they welcomed Ricky, who passed away 10 months later of pneumonia. Bob arrived the following year and Diane two years later.
Ed’s family was always his focus. The family enjoyed camping nearly every weekend in the summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Ed would bring his accordion along to entertain the other campers around the campfire. If he could have figured out a way to make a living at it, Ed would have been a full-time musician.
He played by ear and after his retirement really enjoyed branching out and teaching himself to play many other instruments.
Ed loved to bike. For his 80th birthday Rita bought him a new bike. He read about people taking cross country bike trips and set a goal to bike from West Bend to Minneapolis where Debbie, Dwight and Diane lived.
He trained rigorously for almost a year, studied various maps and plotted his route. At 83 he made the trip by himself! He became a fixture around West Bend biking summer or winter!
Ed was a proud man, creative and self-sufficient, able to take care of his home and tend his beautiful rose garden until 2023 when he moved into memory care.
He was quick to lend a hand to neighbors, but not always good at asking for help. He had high standards and expectations of his children, making sure they understood the importance of a good education and the value of hard work.
He was proud of their accomplishments. He was a great storyteller and enjoyed teaching his grandchildren about gardening and telling them stories about what it was like when he was growing up. He did a lot of research into our family history and was a World War II buff.
His legacy will live on through the curiosity and appreciation for lifelong learning that he sparked; the willingness to work hard and to be grateful for and generous with the resources you are blessed to have.
Ed is survived by his children: Deborah (Mark) Dixson of Lewes, DE; Dwight (Patricia) of Eagan, MN; Robert (Jackie) of Galesburg, MI; Diane (Jeff) Griffith of Eden Prairie, MN. He was the proud grandfather to eight grandchildren: Danielle (Pippa) Durham; Nicole (Justin) Rhett; Annika Martell; Cydney (TJ) Haase; Riley Martell; Shelby Martell; Connor Hussong; and Taylor Hussong as well as one step-grandchild, Anthony Dixson. Ed was also blessed with four great-grandchildren: River Durham; Ocean Durham; Isabella Rhett; and Luca Rhett, along with two step-great-grandchildren: Trent Dixson and Tate Dixson.
He was preceded in death by his wife Rita, infant son Ricky, his parents Joseph and Katherine Martell and his siblings Isabel, Joseph Jr., Raymond, and Julius.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 14 at 11 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in West Bend. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will take place at the Washington County Memorial Park immediately following the service.
The family is grateful for the compassionate and faith-filled care that Prelude Homes and Services along with Bluestone Physician Group and HealthPartners Hospice provided to Ed. In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to Prelude Ministries; 1820 Old Highway 8; New Brighton, MN 55112 https://preludeministries.org/donate/
The Schmidt Funeral Home in West Bend, Wisconsin is serving the family. If you would like to leave a message of comfort and condolence please visit www.schmidtfuneralhome.com
