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Martin Wenes May 28 2008
Funeral services for Martin Wenes of Watertown, SD will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Watertown. Rev. Edward Goode will officiate. Music will be provided by Blair Titze as organist and the Barbershop Quartet. Burial, with military graveside rites provided by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be the Great Plains Force Soccer Team. Active pallbearers will be Don Scharn, Frank Kitterman, Bill Neale, Dana Craig, Jim Clendenin and Bob Pease. Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. with Masonic Rites at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service. Martin peacefully traveled home to be with his Lord on May 28, 2008. Martin was born on March 19 in Council Bluffs, IA. He grew up in Colfax, IA and graduated from Colfax High School in 1939. He attended Drake University before joining the U.S. Navy. He served as a Naval Air Navigator during World War II, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. On September 3, 1944, he was united in marriage to Janet Pease in Colfax, IA. They lived in Ottumwa, IA and Pensacola, FL before settling in Colfax. Martin was employed in the livestock feed business and was named Executive Vice President of Golden Sun Feeds. In 1968, they moved to Watertown, SD, where they resided for the next 40 years. Martin was the plant manager for Hubbard Milling Company, retiring in 1995. Martin was very active in the Watertown community, serving on the Housing Authority Board, the Salvation Army Board, and held numerous positions in the First Congregational Church. Martin was a member of the Masonic Lodge and had earned his ‘50’ year pin. In addition, he was a member of the NE Shrine Scooter Patrol, the Barbershop Chorus and was especially proud of his 40 year membership in Kiwanis. Martin was a loyal supporter of Watertown High School athletics and usually was the first to arrive at football and basketball games and was a member of the Quarterback Club. Martin’s true pride and joy was his family and there could not have been a more loyal grandpa. He traveled coast to coast with the Lincoln High School band; he was on the sidelines cheering on the Roosevelt soccer team as he watched grandsons, Ethan and Garrett, as well as traveling throughout the Midwest supporting the Force and United club soccer teams. He loved attending grandson Christopher’s choir concerts at SMSU and participating with granddaughter, Carrie, at her many horse shows. He could also be found on the golf course enjoying a round of golf with his grandsons and sons-in-law. He experienced his greatest joy when his entire family could be together whether it was at home, in Watertown, or on the family vacations to Walt Disney World and Mackinac Island. Martin is survived by his loving wife, Janet, of 63 years, of Watertown, SD; daughters: Cathy (Chuck) Ostrowski and Becky (Paul) Hillestad, both of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren: Christopher Ostrowski, of Minneapolis, MN; Carrie Ostrowski, Ethan Hillestad, and Garrett Hillestad, all of Sioux Falls, SD. Other survivors include sister-in-law, Agnes Pease, of Colfax, IA; sister, Sandra (Richard) Reily, of River Falls, WI; brother, Gary (Leeann) Knox, of Phoenix, AZ; and nieces and nephews. Memorials may be directed to the NE Shrine Club or the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Martin Wenes
May 28 2008

Funeral services for Martin Wenes of Watertown, SD will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Watertown. Rev. Edward Goode will officiate. Music will be provided by Blair Titze as organist and the Barbershop Quartet.

Burial, with military graveside rites provided by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be the Great Plains Force Soccer Team. Active pallbearers will be Don Scharn, Frank Kitterman, Bill Neale, Dana Craig, Jim Clendenin and Bob Pease.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. with Masonic Rites at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Thursday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

Martin peacefully traveled home to be with his Lord on May 28, 2008. Martin was born on March 19 in Council Bluffs, IA. He grew up in Colfax, IA and graduated from Colfax High School in 1939. He attended Drake University before joining the U.S. Navy. He served as a Naval Air Navigator during World War II, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.

On September 3, 1944, he was united in marriage to Janet Pease in Colfax, IA. They lived in Ottumwa, IA and Pensacola, FL before settling in Colfax. Martin was employed in the livestock feed business and was named Executive Vice President of Golden Sun Feeds. In 1968, they moved to Watertown, SD, where they resided for the next 40 years. Martin was the plant manager for Hubbard Milling Company, retiring in 1995.

Martin was very active in the Watertown community, serving on the Housing Authority Board, the Salvation Army Board, and held numerous positions in the First Congregational Church. Martin was a member of the Masonic Lodge and had earned his ‘50’ year pin. In addition, he was a member of the NE Shrine Scooter Patrol, the Barbershop Chorus and was especially proud of his 40 year membership in Kiwanis. Martin was a loyal supporter of Watertown High School athletics and usually was the first to arrive at football and basketball games and was a member of the Quarterback Club.

Martin’s true pride and joy was his family and there could not have been a more loyal grandpa. He traveled coast to coast with the Lincoln High School band; he was on the sidelines cheering on the Roosevelt soccer team as he watched grandsons, Ethan and Garrett, as well as traveling throughout the Midwest supporting the Force and United club soccer teams. He loved attending grandson Christopher’s choir concerts at SMSU and participating with granddaughter, Carrie, at her many horse shows. He could also be found on the golf course enjoying a round of golf with his grandsons and sons-in-law. He experienced his greatest joy when his entire family could be together whether it was at home, in Watertown, or on the family vacations to Walt Disney World and Mackinac Island.

Martin is survived by his loving wife, Janet, of 63 years, of Watertown, SD; daughters: Cathy (Chuck) Ostrowski and Becky (Paul) Hillestad, both of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren: Christopher Ostrowski, of Minneapolis, MN; Carrie Ostrowski, Ethan Hillestad, and Garrett Hillestad, all of Sioux Falls, SD. Other survivors include sister-in-law, Agnes Pease, of Colfax, IA; sister, Sandra (Richard) Reily, of River Falls, WI; brother, Gary (Leeann) Knox, of Phoenix, AZ; and nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the NE Shrine Club or the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

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