Martin Paul Vanek's Obituary
Martin Vanek passed away peacefully at age 90 on May 9th 2019.
Martin is survived by his wife of 53 years Ruth (Bo) Vanek and daughters Sara (David) Spanbauer and Amy (Paul) Kraemer; his grandchildren Emily (Jeremy) Halla, Hannah (Mark) Moderson, Luke (Allison) Spanbauer, Adam (Ashley) Kraemer, and Charley (Caitlin) Spanbauer. He is further survived by 10 great-grandchildren, Avery, Eli Martin, and Owen Halla, Lily, Tyler, and Mya Moderson, Henry, Bernadine Ruth, and Mitchell Spanbauer, and Beckett Bo Kraemer; a brother-in-law, Phil Lindberg and numerous nephews and nieces.
Martin was born on October 5th, 1928 in Cudahy, Wisconsin. He was very proud of his Czechoslovakian heritage and spoke fluent Czech.
He served in the United States Army as a fire fighter in Fairbanks, Alaska from 1946-1948.
After his time of service he went on to receive a degree in art from the University of Pittsburgh. He started his career as a commercial artist in Chicago and West Bend. From there he worked as an artist for Miles Kimball Company in Oshkosh for many years and eventually became self-employed. He spent his years of retirement working for Garvens and Kobussen bus companies, joyfully driving charter buses for the Oshkosh Area School District.
Martin loved to wager a dollar or two with his friends. He bet on touch downs for football, home runs in baseball, and royal flushes in poker. His passion was playing touch football at Perry Tipler Middle School. He was a legend, playing well into his 70"s running roughshod over the 40 something NFL wannabe’s.
Martin cared for his grandchildren more than anything else in the world and he provided many lasting memories for them to cherish. Buggy rides, sleep-overs, stick ball games, walks to the rock park and Hostess for treats, that ear-piercing whistle (heard at all graduations), burned to a crisp ribs, and the mandatory slivovitz (plum brandy…tastes like kerosene) toast at every family wedding and Christmas Day celebration.
Martin was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Susan Vanek, sister Anne Lindberg, mother-in-law Rose Andrashko, and special sister-in-law Mary Jane Bloch.
Martin’s family would like to especially thank Park View Health Center staff for the extra care and concern that they gave Martin during the final months of his life. Thank you also to Ascension Hospice for their much needed assistance and Dr. Kevin Andrasko for always keeping things positive for Martin.
Per Martin’s wishes, a private family service will be held in his honor at a later date.
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