Harold R Martini

Harold R. Martini, 95 of Onalaska passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 surrounded by his family. He was born December 30, 1917 in West Salem, WI to Martin and Ila (Kenny) Martin.

Harold served in the United States Army during WWII from August 1942 until his honorable discharge in October of 1945. During his military service he served in the Tunisian, Naples-Foggia and Rome-Arno Campaigns. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, the Service Stripe, 4 Overseas Bars Good Conduct Medal; Harold was wounded in action in Italy in 1943 and thus received the Purple Heart Medal. He was wounded a second time and received the Purple Heart Cluster. Harold was also awarded the Bronze Star. Harold was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 12 in La Crosse; the Military Order of the Purple Heart and ThomasRooney VFW Post 1530 in La Crosse.

On December 27, 1945 he married Irene Kendhammer in the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse. Following their marriage, Harold and Irene moved to California where they ran their own dairy farm. In 1960 they moved back to Onalaska and started Martini Trucking until his retirement in 1988.

In addition to his wife Irene; he is survived by a daughter, Diane Schulze of La Crosse; two sons, Ricky Martini of Murfreesboro, TN and Terry (Teresa) Martini of Wausau; two grandsons, Steven Schulze of La Crosse and Nicholas Schulze of Eugene, OR; a granddaughter, April Scafe of La Crosse and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Debra; one brother and three sisters.

Harolds family would like to thank his caregiver, Bekki and Monsignor Hundt for their support and comfort.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, November 9th in the Marian Chapel of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman with Monsignors Charles Stoetzel and Robert Hundt officiating. Entombment with military honors will follow in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends and family may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 AM until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman or a charity of the donors choice.