Martin H Marquardt's Obituary
Martin H. Marquardt, 90, of Castro Valley, CA passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 12:30 am. He was born on February 25, 1925 in Leola, South Dakota. His parents were Heinrich and Fredericka Marquardt, born in Russia. He was one of seven children. In high school he played football, basketball, baseball and sang baritone in the choir. He graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD with his teaching credential. Martin served in the United States Army, driving tanks in Italy during WWII. On June 1, 1947 he married Kathryn Kay of Spencer, SD. Martin met Kathryn at church camp one summer and gave her a silver heart pendant which she still wears. August 1, 1949 their first child, Carolyn, was born and ten days later they drove to Salinas, CA for Martin’s first job as a math teacher. Sons Michael and David were born here in 1950 and 1952. His next teaching job was in San Leandro, CA and they moved to Oakland. In 1953 they bought their first and last home in Castro Valley where their fourth child, Marianne, was born. Kathryn worked as a nurse at nearby Eden Hospital. Martin and Kathryn celebrated their 68th Wedding Anniversary on June 1, 2015.Martin and Kathryn were members of Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church for many years. Martin helped build the church. Martin and Kathryn loved to travel and take photographs. Martin had thousands of color slides and many photo albums he put together as memories of their travels. He got started in photography during summers when his teaching job gave him free time. He built his own photo enlarger from a large juice can. He photographed houses that were for sale, developed the negatives, printed them and his wife Kathryn hand colored them (no color film back then). They traveled to Africa, Germany, Israel, Turkey, France, England, Mexico and Hawaii. They made many trips in the US to see the National Parks, ride steam trains and visit friends and family. Martin liked to dance the polka and waltz with Kathryn at German festivals. Martin was a member of the Germans from Russian Heritage Society for many years, attending many genealogy conventions and was president of the California chapter. He enjoyed researching his family heritage. Martin loved music. He played clarinet during his school days and later the electric organ. He made sure that all of his children had the chance to learn a musical instrument. Martin built and tuned a carillon which he enjoyed playing during church services. Martin retired from teaching school when he was 58 years old so he needed a second career. He took classes and trained himself in antique clock repair. He spent many hours at his work bench in the garage repairing clocks for customers or restoring clocks he collected for himself.Martin is survived by his wife Kathryn Marquardt; sister Olga Spitzer of Lodi, CA; brother Victor Marquardt of Lodi, CA; daughter Carolyn and husband Reid Champagne of Kirkland, WA; daughter Marianne O’Donoghue of Castro Valley; son Michael Marquardt and wife Sharon of Livermore, CA; son David Marquardt and wife Andrea of Los Altos, CA; grandchildren Craig, Jesse, Jennifer, Jonathon, and Sean; great grandson Conrad and great grand daughter Charlotte on the way.We all miss him very much. May he rest in peace with God.
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