FAIRMONT — Funeral services for Martin C. Welchlin, 96, of Fairmont, Minn., will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 2019, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Fairmont. Burial will follow the service in Lakeside Cemetery, Fairmont, with full military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and the Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222.

Martin passed away Tuesday morning, April 2, 2019, at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, Minn. Visitation will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2019, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Martin Chester Welchlin was born Aug. 21, 1922, at the family home in Fairmont, Minn., the son of John Martin and Minnie (Ebel) Welchlin. Marty attended school in Fairmont and graduated from Fairmont High School with the class of 1940. Following his graduation, Marty began working for Fairmont Railway Motors. While still in school, Martin enlisted with the Minnesota National Guard in 1937. He entered active duty on Jan. 6, 1941, and served with Battery H 215th AA during World War II. He received his honorable discharge on Jan. 21, 1946, and at the time of his death was the last living member of Battery H.

On Aug. 8, 1948, Martin was united in marriage to Bernadene L. Sandoz at United Methodist Church in Fairmont, Minn. Together, the couple would make their home in Fairmont and were blessed with a daughter, Mary.

Marty returned to work at Railway Motors after his time with the military and continued working there until 1948. He then began working at Fairmont Farm Store Inc., where he worked as manager and president until 1973. In 1974, Marty went to work for the Martin County Assessor Office as a deputy assessor and retired in 1998 as Martin County Assessor.

Martin was a life member and elder of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Fairmont and was past commander of Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222. He was a life member of Rose Lake Golf Course, former member of the Fairmont Chamber of Commerce and Bureau 14, in addition to also being a member of the Martin County Agriculture Society, Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36, Minnesota and International Association of Assessing Officers, and was a charter member of the Elk’s.

In his spare time, Martin enjoyed playing golf with his friends and cherished memories made at the many family gatherings throughout the years. Marty had a wonderful sense of humor and will be greatly missed by those that loved him and called him a friend.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Mary Schoener and her husband, James of Fairmont, Minn.; grandchildren, Nicholas Hoppe and his wife, Evalynne of Fairmont, Dominic Schoener and his wife, Sarah of Rifle, Colo., Jessica Schoener of Eden Prairie, Minn., Katie Benck and her husband, Aaron of East Chain, Minn.; great-grandchildren, McKenna Benck, Keira Benck, and Alex Benck; as well as many, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Minnie Welchlin; wife, Bernadene; brothers, Walter Welchlin, Harry Welchlin, Louis Welchlin, Milton Welchlin, Edward Welchlin and George Welchlin; sisters, Frieda Meyer, Alma Eisenmenger, Louise Welchlin, Mable Dressely, and Redina Janssen; son-in-law, Gary Hoppe; as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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