Obituary for Jerald A. "Jerry" Martin

Jerald August Martin passed away July 31, 2022 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. “Jerry” was born October 31, 1940 to Theodore and Katherine (Gardner) Martin in Portland, WI. He grew up on a small dairy farm with seven siblings. He worked on farms near Bangor his last two years of high school. After graduating from Bangor High School in 1958, he enlisted in the United States Army. He spent five months in Fort Ord, California, before going to Germany during the Berlin Crisis until he was discharged in 1961. Jerry worked at GMC Truck Plant in California, then returned to Wisconsin and worked as a machinist Sparta Manufacturing for 2 years. He retired as a master machinist from Trane Company after 36 years at the age of 62. Jerry married Peaches Orr on July 20, 1968 and together raised two sons, Jay and Wade. He joined the National Guard 32nd Engineer Company in 1974. In 1990 he was sent to serve in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, where he was responsible for food supplies and cooking. He retired from the military in 1992 after 21 years of service. He was a member of VFW Post 1530 and the West Salem Legion Post 51. He enjoyed spending time going to the casino, bowling, fishing, hunting, cooking, and baking. Jerry is survived by sons Jay, Wade (Haley) Martin, step daughter Cindy (Nate) Mallinger and their mother Peaches of West Salem. Grandchildren Kayla (Grant) Mayer, Jade Lamb, MacKenzie (Tyzin Bush), Jacob, and Gavin Martin. Step grandchildren Clinton Tate, Racquel, Jordan (Colleen Linnea) Touchet and nine great grandchildren. Brothers Ronald, Delbert, Tim, George (Marlene), and Bruce (Linda)Martin. Sisters Darleen (Norm) Ziegler, Donna Oium. He was preceded in death by step brother Laverne Martin, step sister Mabel Ann Ramsland. Brother Theodore Martin 2018, sister-in-law Annette Martin 2020, niece Tammy (Martin) Sullivan 2021, and nephew Neal Baldwin 2019. Visitation will be held Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home in West Salem. Service to follow. Burial at a later date.