Marta Sanyer

Sanyer, Marta

Madison: Marta Elisabet Sanyer died on May 17, 2018 after several years of declining health. She was born on June 1, 1922 to Robert and Tekla Vallmark in Hé�rné�sand, Sweden, the youngest of six siblings. Marta grew up in Hé�rné�sand and then lived in Stockholm as a young adult. Her early years were strongly influenced by the challenges of the Great Depression and then the global disruption of World War II. Marta taught herself chemistry using her older sister's college textbooks and worked as a research assistant in a lab at the Stockholm Institute of Technology, before immigrating to Syracuse, New York in 1947. Shortly after arriving in U.S. she met Necmi Sanyer, a graduate student in chemistry from Turkey. Marta and Necmi married in 1953, in New York City.

Marta and Necmi lived in Chillicothe, Ohio, and then moved to Wisconsin in 1959. They raised their two children, Leyla and Osman, on the west side of Madison. Marta worked as a research assistant for a number of years in Professor Howard Temin's lab at the University of Wisconsin.

Marta appreciated education, classical music, open space in nature, a beautiful garden, and visual art. She would always stop and admire a great view. Marta was a lifelong member of the League of Women Voters, a volunteer at the Red Cross, and an advocate for opportunity, education and equal rights for those who are disadvantaged. She believed in treating others with kindness and fairness, and that all should have a voice in a civil society. Marta was a loyal friend who did not shy away during times of illness in others. This said, Marta could have a sarcastic sense of humor. She knew what she liked, and what she didn't like, and was known to wrinkle her nose in obvious disapproval on more than one occasion.

Marta is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters, Kajsa, Ingrid and Kerstin, and her brothers Per and Sven. Marta is survived by her daughter, Leyla Sanyer, and Leyla's husband, Brad Schneider, of Verona, as well as their children, Berk and Kajsa. In addition, she is survived by her son, Osman Sanyer, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and his children, Mathias and Cari.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Center for Arts and Education at Oakwood University Woods, 6205 Mineral Point Rd., Madison, Wisconsin 53705. Based on our mother's values and in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Marta's name to one of the following: Foundation for Madison Public Schools, Friends of the Arboretum, or Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin.

Marta's family would like to thank the staff at the Oakwood Hebron unit, as well as the staff of Agrace Hospice, for their genuine attentive care and kindness during Marta's years at Oakwood University Woods.

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