Slifka, Martin 1935 - 2025

SLIFKA, WOMACK, SAATHOFF, ALBERTSON, RIEHLE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/17/2025 at 11:22:05

Martin Slifka, age 89, of Shell Rock, IA (formerly of Cresco, IA) passed away on January 14, 2025.

Martin Slifka was born on April 29, 1935 in Cresco, Iowa to Michael and Velma “Peggy” (Womack) Slifka. Martin was 13 when his father died and greatly changed the direction of his life. He was so proud that his paternal grandfather Michael Martin Slifka, whom he was named after, served in WWII even though he was in his 40s at the time. It gave Martin a heart to want to join the US Marine Corps, and upon his graduation from Cresco High School in 1953 he joined in September 1953. He served in California and Hawaii in his first several years in the Marines. He was overjoyed when his brother Keith Michael Slifka also joined the Marines the next year and they served and spent together in some of the same places.

Upon getting out of the Marines, he worked at Titus Manufacturing in Waterloo. He met Joanne Saathoff during that time and they were married in 1957 and had two children, Wanda and Wendel. They divorced in 1975. In the mid 1960’s, Martin went back in to the Marine Corps, and served in an administrative capacity in Okinawa, Virginia and Washington DC until he retired in September 1984, as a Master Gunnery Sergeant.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Martin moved back to Cresco, Iowa, where he bought some property and enjoyed raising some farm animals. Martin enjoyed hunting and fishing all of his life. A few years ago he sold his property and moved to Shell Rock, Iowa, with his companion, Nedra for a quieter life.

He is survived by his daughter, Wanda of Mesa, Arizona; siblings Max of Cresco, Iowa; Kay (Robert) Albertson of Waterloo, Iowa; sister-in-law Harriett Slifka of California; special friend Nedra Peterson of Shell Rock, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents; step-father Stuart Mintey; son Wendal Slifka; twin sister Marilyn Stanley; brothers Keith and Kenneth, and a sister Michaeleen Riehle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Schmelzer Funeral Homes, PO Box 408, Cresco, IA 52136. All memorials will be given to the family.

Source: Schmelzer Funeral Home database

New Oregon Cemetery
 

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