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Uncle Marty
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My Family: Home Page My Immediate Family My Nuclear Family Extended Family: Sundholm Arlington's
Family page Pauline's Birthday Celebration 2007 Extended Family: Dietzler
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My mom's youngest brother, Marty, died unexpectedly of congestive heart failure in April 2005. He was only 42, and he will be sorely missed by not only our family, but the hundreds of people he met while he was here on Earth. After getting a taste of "the road" while in the Marines, he traveled almost non-stop throughout the rest of his far-too-short life. At one time or another, he visited every state in the U.S. He made a new friend (sometimes a dozen new friends) in every town. Click here to read Marty's obituary Click here to read Lynn's eulogy Page 1 of Barbie's pics after the funeral Page 2 of Barbie's pics after the funeral Pics of the planting of Marty's tree Click here to see pictures of Marty
Coming soon: Our favorite stories about Uncle Marty Please share your pictures and memories for posting on this page! Here's the first one from Colleen, summer 2005: Cody, Mom, Uncal, and I decided to play a game of Trivial Pursuit: 20th anniversary edition (a game I had gotten from Jax for Christmas). Of course, Uncal quickly blurted, "I'll kick all your asses!" (The smarty pants he was!) So, we got going into the game, and of course, Uncal was winning because he was the only one who knew the "off the wall" and random questions! He received a question about one of his favorite TV shows (I believe it was from the Sopranos??). He quickly answered "The Kitty Bar" (I think that's what it's called). This was followed by a Happy Dance and a little gloating! He also included the famous saying from the show. (Again, I don't remember how they saying goes.) Well, after awhile, Uncal had all his pie pieces except one, and he was getting pretty ticked off! So, we got to a question about the same TV show, and wouldn't you know, it asked for the saying that Uncal had just said about 10 minutes prior. However, this time, HE COULDN'T REMEMBER IT! And because he insisted on NOT giving hints throughout the entire game, I refused to give him a hint! No kidding, he thought about that saying for 10 mintues, and then went outside to have a smoke to think about it some more!!! After about 15 or 20 minutes althogether, he gave up and asked me to tell him the answer! Once I told him, he obviously was extremely upset at himself, and because he had (LITERALLY) worked up a sweat, the game was then ended! He was so hilarious!! It will be a memory for the rest of my life! We all did some reminiscing and a little more mourning when we marked the one-year anniversary of Uncle Marty's death. Here are a couple of stories we told: From Tara, April 6, 2006: I didn't realize it was a year yesterday until reading yesterday's paper this morning when I got to school. So how weird is this?....... Yesterday when I was on my way home for lunch, I turned at the Freedom station and did a double-take (actually I almost stopped the car). There was a man that looked EXACTLY like Uncle Marty walking into the gas station. He was built exactly like him, and was wearing a denim shirt and a baseball hat with his shades propped up on top, just like Uncle Marty would do. He was carrying a little blonde-haired (actually white it was so blonde) toddler that totally reminded me of us when we were little - except you Jackie, I don't think your hair was EVER blonde :) When I got home I told Chris about it, and we both figured it had to be about a year ago, but I didn't know it was the exact day! I'm so weird about stuff like this, I figure it's Uncle Marty's way of saying hi to me......I'm a dork, I know. He'd laugh at me for it though... From Missy, April 6, 2006: I'm glad to hear, everyone has good memories of Marty! I too have a lot of great ones. I do have to tell you all, that one thing you probably don't know, is where Marty use to hunt when he would come and stay with us over the hunting season. Kevin showed him a spot behind the mine, which Cheryl, Barb, Lynn and Meridy you may know where I mean. They call it the Tailings. Well Kevin and I take Arly out there closer to the fall time. Something made me take Arly out there yesterday, not realizing that that is where Marty hunted. Well I came across the spot where he use to bed down (so to speak) and wait for the "tirdy pointer" as he would say :-} Well anyway, there is sooooooooooo much fine mine sand that it almost looks like sand dunes, I took a stick and wrote in big letters--- IN MEMORY OF YOU, MARTY SUNDHOLM --LOVE ALWAYS 4-5-06! It was pretty cool, because when I was done writing it, I then kept walking another 1/2 mile. On my way back, at that spot I wrote in the sand, the wind blew it slightly, which made me feel like he was right there protecting me! :-} Anyway, probably sounds crazy, but I thought it was cool. Miss him everyday, but, that's ok, I think if we didn't we wouldn't be human! Love to all, and talk to ya later. From Cindee, April 6, 2006 I think of Uncle Marty often too! Especially now that Jeremy (my "just turned" 4-year old) is such a huge Nascar fan! It's hard NOT to think of him when that's all Jeremy does is want to watch, look at and play with Nascar stuff!! It's sad that most people think of someone more often after they've lost that person. For some reason, this time is different compared to when we lost Grandma or Grandpa because they had both lived their lives for the most part. Know what I mean? It makes you stop and realize how fragile life really is. Uncle Marty was still so young!! One thing we can all do is keep his memory alive in our hearts, which I know we started doing immediately after we lost him. Just like with Grandma and Grandpa and all the great stories I STILL hear about them!!! E-mail pictures or stories to: derekbetsy@comcast.net
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