Whether rescuing a fawn from a newly poured foundation, welcoming a starving stray cat into his arms on a cold spring day or the affection he showed for all family and neighborhood pets, Walter Marty will be remembered as a lover of all creatures great and small. Walter Frederick Marty was born in Monroe WI on March 12, 1936 and died peacefully in Oshkosh, WI on September 13, 2021.
Walter was raised in Monroe, WI in all the best Swiss-American traditions. He idolized his immigrant grandparents - grandfather Carl, an artist, poet and cheesemaker and grandmother Verena, the matriarch until she passed at age 103. Returning to Monroe always made for great memories, whether it be Cheese Days celebrations, a Swiss cheese sandwich at Baumgartner's on the square or his 70th and 75th birthday parties. Always connected to his roots in Monroe, he remained close to childhood friends and never missed a high school reunion.
Walter graduated with a degree in Economics from UW-Madison and was a Marine Corps Reservist. He married Jane Gliniecki in 1959. They moved to Green Bay where they raised their three daughters and Walter began his long career with the State of Wisconsin – DHLR/DWD.
Walter loved the Northwoods. He spent lazy summers and golden autumns at the family cottage on Deer Lake in beautiful Three Lakes, WI where his family owned a resort for many years. Upon retirement from DWD – Director/Job Service, he spent even more time there and watched his children and grandchildren make memories on Frog Island. Walter also enjoyed boyhood summers at Camp Manitowish in Boulder Junction and was happy to see his nephew Andy, grandson Andy and great nephew Isaac carry on that tradition.
His love of adventure started early with trips to Europe and the western U.S. with his beloved older brother and travel-mate Robert. Gifted story tellers, Walter and Robert would often entertain their families with hilarious tales of their boyhood and travels. Another special travel memory for Walter was at age 75, a trip of a lifetime to Switzerland that he took with high school friends and cousins.
Walter instilled in his children a love of travel and history. Family trips were not of the theme-park variety. Among the best memories were visits to Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, IL, Mark Twain's home in Hannibal, MO., Gettysburg, Nashville, and Galena. Walter escorted each daughter on their own special tour of Europe. Favorite haunts were the Mousel Brewery and Castle Vianden in Luxembourg, The Follies Bergère at Moulin Rouge in Paris and Noodles Auf Lauf at the Hotel Greminger in Germany. Each trip included a brief layover in Iceland where his creative airport shopping skills ensured wool sweaters for his daughters. His travel battle cry was "Let's go – you can sleep when you're dead!". He was eager for his daughters to see and do it all… and through his generosity they did.
A lifetime lover of sports, he was a "feared specter" on the court for the Monroe Cheesemakers High School basketball team. He was an avid Packers fan and proud survivor of the 1967 Ice Bowl. His favorite Packer was family friend #66 Ray Nitschke. A thrill of a lifetime was being part of The Sea of Red at the 1994 Pasadena Rose Bowl cheering on his alma mater and beloved Badgers. It took a week for his voice to recover.
In 2018 Walter moved to Oshkosh to be near his daughters. Having Walter close in the last few years was a wonderful gift to his children and family. Walter enjoyed breakfast at the Delta Restaurant, road trips to Gillies Drive-Inn and family dinners. One of his top requests was to visit and admire Jane's memorial tree in Menominee Park.
Walter is survived by his daughters Christine Augsburger, Susan (Greg) Vande Sande and Jennifer Marty. He is also survived by his beloved brother and best friend Robert (Shirley) Marty, his grandchildren Caitlin (Christopher) Yogerst, Andrew Augsburger (Madison Boehme) and Kylara (Adam) Killian, nephew Andrew (Rachel) Marty and great nephew Isaac, nephew Mark Walker and great nephews Michael and Ryan and great niece Elizabeth. He was blessed with two great-grandchildren, June Yogerst and Claire Killian. Walter is also survived by many cousins, great nieces and nephews and friends.
Preceding Walter in death were his grandparents, parents Robert and Helen Marty, special cousin Carl "Mike" Marty and niece Joy Marty Walker. Also preceding Walter in death was his ex-wife and friend, Jane Westphal.
Walter's family wishes to extend sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Staff of Parkview Health Center in Oshkosh and Jonathan of St. Croix Hospice in Fond du Lac for their support and kindness. To quote Roy Orbison – his favorite singer: "People often ask me HOW I would like to be remembered and I answer that I would simply like to BE remembered." If you are thinking of honoring Walter's memory, consider a donation to your local Animal Shelter or Humane Society. Dad – one day we will meet again and we will all be in our places with bright smiling faces. We love you – Chrissybug, Schmoozie and Jenny M.
