Marty Brewer

Marty Kelly Brewer, statesman and gentleman farmer, passed away on Thursday, January 16th, surrounded by his loving family, from complications related to his battle with lung cancer.
Born on Buck Creek in Richland County, Marty spent his youth working on the farm and having the kind of adventures that only farm boys raised in the 1950s could have, alongside his older brother Will. Together, they raised a monkey, rescued and cared for raccoons, and were dragged by their stirrups by ponies up Breakneck Gulch. Like most farm boys, Marty loved and lost more dogs than seems possible. He drove tractors and fell in love with the bright orange of Allis Chalmers. A star student at Richland Center High school, he also represented his community at Badger Boys State.
After graduating from UW-Platteville with a degree in political science, Marty moved to the Madison area and was hired by American Family Insurance as a health underwriter. He eventually settled in McFarland where he and his former wife, Ann, raised three wonderful children together. After their marriage ended, Marty went on a blind date arranged by his brother and met the love of his life, Connie, with whom he shared 36 blissful years, and expanded his family by adding two stepchildren.
Following 30 years of service at American Family and retiring as the director of health underwriting, Marty and Connie moved back to Buck Creek to care for his aging parents. Marty also pursued his lifelong dream of starting his own business. He founded Buck Creek Tractor Co., where he bought, restored, and resold the antique Allis Chalmers tractors he had fallen so hard for as a boy. He also spent 23 years driving a school bus and taught hundreds of kids Driver's Ed in Richland Center.
Always a tinkerer, Marty rarely went without a project. From modifying his first car, a '63 Chevy, to restoring a Ford Model A, completely building a MG-TD kit car from scratch, or the 1972 Olds Cutlass he restored for his son, Marty had a deep love for fixing and restoring machines. And he loved to drive them too. Whether it was a Harley Electra Glide, an antique Allis Chalmers bulldozer, or a big yellow schoolbus with a moose on the side, he found great joy in being behind the wheel-or handlebars.
While his career was in insurance, his political science degree was also put to good use. Marty was always deeply involved in local politics and community service. From his days as a McFarland Jaycee and village board member to his later years as a Richland County board member and president, Marty took great pride in serving his neighbors and striving to make his community a better place.
Besides tractors, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Green Bay Packers, Marty's other great passion was golf. He played for many years in leagues in Madison and Richland Center, and always looked forward to his annual golf trip to Kentucky with the boys. Although he bowled for many years as well, bowling never brought him to the heights of greatness nor the depths of despair like golf did.
Marty was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Mary, and leaves behind his loving wife, Connie, his children Jennifer, Melissa and Zach (Emily), stepchildren Jason and Emily (Chad), 8 grandchildren: Coty, Madelyn, Ayden, Macy, Lainey, Charlie, Bella and Gabby, 1 great-granddaughter, Sawyer, and his big brother Will.
Goodbye, Marty. Pony rider. Monkey tamer. Tractor jockey. Labrador lover. Husband. Father. Grandpa. We love you and always will.
"My hope for Marty is when he gets to heaven he sees all the cars he ever owned, and they run. That he sees all the tractors he ever owned, and they run. That he sees all the motorcycles he ever owned, and they run. That he sees all the dogs he ever owned, and they run too. And that he sees all the loved ones that have gone before him there waiting for him and THEY better NOT run!!"
In lieu of flowers or donations, the family requests that you play a round of golf this summer and think fond thoughts of Marty when you do.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at the Pratt Community Hall, 140 N. Park St., Richland Center from 1:00 PM until 3:30 PM with a time of sharing to be held at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family requests that you play a round of golf this summer and think of Marty when you do. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.