John Wallace Martin

John Wallace Martin was surrounded by his family and friends when he died Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the Mayo Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin at the age of 69. He is survived by his wife, Gail (Christofferson) Martin of La Crescent, Minnesota; son, Keith, of Woodinville, Washington and son, Kevin, of Seattle, Washington; a sister, Merle (Martin) DeNuccio (Pat Ferrian) of New Brighton, Minnesota; and nephew, Damian DeNuccio of New Brighton, MN. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Balantich Martin; father, James Martin; step-mother, Gertrude Martin; step-brothers, John “Jack”, Roy “Bud”, Dale, and Richard “Dick” Gustafson; and step-sister, Carol Gustafson Porter.
John was born on February 7, 1946, in Chisholm, Minnesota to James and Mary (Balantich) Martin. He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1964 and from Bemidji State College in 1988. He joined the U.S. Air Force in July 1964 and spent four years primarily in Guam as an aircraft welder. He married Gail Christofferson June 15, 1974 in Hibbing. Together they built a home in Nashwauk, Minnesota and began to raise their two sons, Keith and Kevin. During their time on the Iron Range, John was a Hibbing police officer and then a welder with L&M Radiator Company. In 1990, they moved to La Crescent where John began working as a welding certification specialist with Trane Company (of La Crosse) and became a welding instructor at Western Technical College where he taught for 22 years until he retired in 2013. His sons will never forget his love and support and the lifelong lessons he taught them—be willing to help others and put others first. His wife Gail will cherish the memories they built in their 41 years traveling many roads together as a couple, as parents and with friends.
John always had a smile for everyone, a new joke to share, and a motorcycle trip plan in the works. He was a member of the American Legion Post 595 in La Crescent, the Hokah Lions Club, and the Hokah United Methodist Church.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2015, at 2:00pm at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 111 So. Oak Street, La Crescent, Minn. Friends are invited to greet the family at the funeral home between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Following the services, there will be a reception at the Hokah City Hall beginning at 3:00pm where we can share the stories with everyone whose life John has touched. David Dunt, close friend and lay minister at the Hokah United Methodist Church will officiate at the service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate John’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in John’s name to the Oasis Fund at the Mayo Clinic Health System (a fund for cancer patients and families) at 700 West Avenue So., La Crosse, WI 54601. The family would like to thank Dr. Debranin, Dr. Cooley, and the nursing staff from the Mayo Health Care Cancer Unit for their loving care and their support of John during his treatment.