Marvin Anthony Wisnewski (75), formerly of Stratford, Wisconsin passed away in 2019 at University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin with his family at his side. Marv grew up and attended school in Poniatowski, Wisconsin. He would often smile as he told stories of grade school mischief, which often involved his brother Norby as his partner-in-crime. Between the pranks was also a great deal of hard work, as Marv worked on the farm, assisted in the convent next door, and dug graves by hand in the local cemetery. Marv was very close to his mother, who he lost at the age of 13. He learned a great deal from the short time he had with her and carried on many of the traditions she introduced him to. Marv deeply loved his daughter Jill. He would take Jill ice fishing, which was mostly about the snacks, deer hunting, which was completely about the snacks, and snow plowing, where the snacks came to a bitter end after many hours of quick forward and reverse passes in his pickup truck.
Marv worked as a cement mason all his life. He took pride in hard work and a job well done. He had an eye for detail which continued into his love of gardening and cooking. While he lived alone for 25 years, he always said he had a lot of mouths to feed. Tens of thousands of pounds of brats, kielbasa, German sausage, breakfast sausage, and sauerkraut were made by hand. He served for many years on the Stratford Fire Department, where he led many a smelt fry and charcoal chicken dinner. These projects were his way to connect with people and serve others.
Marv’s happiest times were at his workshop, whether working on a project with friends, mowing the lawn, canning thousands of quarts of pickles and salsa with his sister Rinka, watching his beloved Green Bay Packers, or just sitting in the sun and enjoying a cold one. His grandchildren, Rosalie and Dominic, thought Grandpa Marv’s shop was magical, with its beautiful flowers, productive garden, room to run, and an endless supply of ice cream sandwiches and snacks for them. Marv began to suffer from congestive heart failure after a heart attack in 2017. He faced this challenge like he did everything in his life, with bravery, determination, and grace. He cherished the outpouring of love and support he received from friends and family, even if it was hard for him to accept needing the help. Through his illness, he made deep and lasting connections and inspired others. Marv was generous to a fault. He was a giver through and through, no matter the cost or inconvenience to him. This carried through with him to the end. Even on his toughest days, he said how lucky was. Marv volunteered as an organ and tissue donor through his driver’s license, then reaffirmed that choice in his Medical Advanced Directive. As ill as he was, he was still able to help others in their darkest hours through his gift of bone and other tissues, and perhaps even the pericardium surrounding his enlarged and generous heart. Those wishing to do something in Marv’s memory are encouraged to do the following: turn up the country music, get outside in the sunshine, enjoy some ice cream, help a friend with a project, or buy the next round.
