Clair Martin

1922 - 2014

Martin, Clair R.

Clair R. Martin, age 91, of Oshkosh, WI, died Saturday, February 15, 2014. He was born in Viroqua, WI, July 11, 1922, the son of Emil and Ida (Besaw) Martin. The family moved to Oshkosh when he was six. He married Helen Sendele, August 16, 1947 at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Clair graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1940. During high school he was employed by the Oshkosh City Council as a musician in the Municipal Band. In 1940 he enlisted in the Army National Guard 127th Infantry 32nd Red Arrow Division. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater - New Guinea, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

He graduated in accounting from the Oshkosh Business College where he also taught part-time. Clair played in the Oshkosh Symphony in the late 1940s. He worked for Giesler and Porter public accounting firm. Upon completion of additional courses through the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Clair was certified by the State of Wisconsin as a Certified Public Accountant in 1953. He joined the Miles Kimball Company in 1955, retired as Vice President of Finance in 1991 and continued working part-time there until 1996.

He was a past member of the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Executive Institute. Clair was actively involved in Chamco, Inc. and the Oshkosh Area United Way, as well as capital campaigns for Lourdes High School and Mercy Medical Center.

Clair was a long term member of the Oshkosh Serra Club and served as the Oshkosh president and the District Governor of Serra International. An active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church (Most Blessed Sacrament), where he was treasurer for 10 years. Clair was president of the St. Mary's Home and School Association and Lourdes High School Band Parents Association. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Clair traveled extensively with his wife, Helen, and daughters. For many years he enjoyed golfing, which he learned in the 1940s in Australia.

He was preceded in death by his wife Helen, brother Wesley, sister Delores Stutz, brothers-in-law Robert Sendele and Joseph Schettl, and sisters-in-law Helen Sambs Martin and Lyda Sendele. He is survived by daughters Judith Martin, Madison, Dr. Kristine Martin, Hobart, and Patricia Martin, Madison, his sister Grace Schettl, nieces, nephews and friends.

Services for Clair will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish-St. Mary's Church (442 Monroe St.) with Fr. James Jugenheimer officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home- Eastside with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. and again on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Clair will be laid to rest at Riverside-Catholic Section.

A foundation will be established through the Oshkosh Foundation, in his memory.