Martin Wesolowski

MADISON - Martin F. Wesolowski, age 81, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 31, 2012, surrounded by the love of his family at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. He was born December 13, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI. On December 27, 1954, he married the love of his life, Gloria Roberta Fisher, at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison.
Martin moved from Milwaukee to Madison as a child, and remained a resident of Madison. He attended Sherman Grade School, St. Raphael School, East High, and Edgewood High School in Madison, graduating in 1948 from Edgewood. He served in the Korean War from 1951-53, with the rank of Corporal in the US Army, 1st Cavalry, as a Signal Corps radio operator in Japan and Korea. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1957, with a BS in Chemistry.
In his early career, he worked for Rayovac and then Decar Plastics as a chemist. Beginning in 1965, he was an analytical chemist at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison in the Microscopy Lab. He retired in 1991, and he and Gloria were able to spend much time in the following years travelling.
Martin played basketball for Edgewood High School, and continued in intramural leagues until the age of 48. He was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers fan.
Martin was a member of St. Raphael Cathedral since moving to Madison as a child, and a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish since its founding.
The family spent summer vacations travelling, mostly throughout the American West. The Black Hills of South Dakota were a favorite, and became a second home in spirit, with dozens of trips made over the years.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria; sons Daniel (Martha) [Grand Rapids, MI], Douglas (Trish) [Madison], David [Skokie, IL], Donald [Madison], and Denne Jon (Linda) [St. Paul, MN]; grandchildren Justin, Michael, Leah, Ian, Eric, and Jace; brother-in-law Jack Fisher, sisters-in-law Shirley Olson, Joanne Fisher, and Mary Sams; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Martin E. and Jeanette; his brother James; parents-in-law Clyde and Leona Fisher; sister-in-law Virginia Fisher; brothers-in-law Fay Harris, Emil Olson, and Roger Sams.
A family service was held at Agrace HospiceCare on March 31, 2012. An open house to celebrate Martin's life will be held at the family home on Saturday, April 14, 2012, 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Burial will take place in Fall 2012 at the Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, SD, in Martin's beloved Black Hills.
The family would like to thank Martin's Agrace HospiceCare West home team, as well as the staff at Agrace HospiceCare, who helped make his last months and weeks full of peace and love.
The family suggests that memorials be made in Martin's name to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 East Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.