Thomas R. Martin, 76, of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away on April 13, 2009.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a member of the United Community Church.  He was member of the American Legion Alonzo Cudworth Post #23 and the Korean Knights in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He graduated From Whitefish Bay High School in 1951 and attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, R.O. and Beatrice (nee Holstein) Martin, a brother, Ralph Martin, a sister, Diane Plettner and his baby grandson, Kyle Owen Martin.  Survivors include his wife, Hazel (nee Semke), four children, Laura Martin, Lisa (Steve) Balistreri, William (Sue) Martin, and Timm (Theresa) Martin, a brother, Michael (Jeanne) Martin, a sister-in-law, Sylvia (Arthur) Menz, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the United Community Church, 1501 La Jolla Avenue, Sun City Center, Florida.  A memorial service will be held in Milwaukee, WI at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sun City Center LifePath Hospice Resource Center, 3725 Upper Creek Drive, Ruskin, FL 33573, or the United Community Church Scholarship Fund, 1501 La Jolla Avenue, Sun City Center, FL 33573.

Or you can send cash to Hazel Martin.  Though she is too proud to ask for money, she is facing enormous hospital and medical bills.  Please help her out if possible.

See the Obituary and Sign the Guestbook

This is one tough marine!  Tom fell and broke his hip and had to undergo surgery.  Like many challenges before, this surgery was expected to kill him.  But Tom continued to defy death, and like the Energizer bunny that keeps on going, Tom survived once again.  He asked his granddaughter Heather to snap his photo to show the world that “I’m alive!”

We are happy to report that Tom has returned home from the hospital and nursing home, where he was rehabilitating after his bout with pneumonia.  Hopefully Tom will be writing here again soon.

From Tom’s son, Timm:

Tom is in the hospital with pneumonia in both lungs.  We are praying for his recovery.

Today is his birthday.  We wish he was enjoying his 76th birthday at home, or better yet, sailing the open blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, as he loved to do in days gone by.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Heaven sent this little puppy (5 years old) called "Silvie."  Weighs 5 pounds.  We call her "My Guard Dog" or "My Little Nurse."

When I am awake, she’s awake.  When I sleep, she curls up next to my right shoulder.  When I lay down and hurt, she lays her warm little body over the spot.

If someone other than family touches me while I am sleeping, "Leo the Lion" roars out.  Lots of noise.  If someone other than family touches me, she studies them intently.

She is now laying 3 feet next to me.

When I came home from the hospital after being "critical," she walked around with her head hung low for 3 days.

What can I say?  Thank you, God.

Went to VA today.

Cleared for another year of oxygen.