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   Martin J. Wagner left this World in peace on October, 25th 2025 with his children around his bedside. Marty was 79 when dementia and his failing heart allowed his spirit to fly.  

   Marty grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico to a devout Catholic family. His favorite memories of New Mexico were helping his neighbor garden, and his friends and time at St. Pius High School, where he was a basketball star. Marty went on to San Francisco where he attended USF and walked onto the football team.  

   Marty’s family began staying at Woman Lake Lodge in the 1950s. He often shared how amazed he was by the green and blues of the dense NorthWoods compared to the desert. His favorite job was helping to deliver chunks of ice to the ice chests- he couldn’t believe a place could get that cold. The Northwoods soon became his home and where he wanted to raise a family and spend all his time. He quickly found out how easily water froze around here.

   Marty was a father, a traveler and an artisan. Marty traveled from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from Alaska to South America as a project manager building steam turbines. In all his travels he was always anxious to get back to the cabin, no where he traveled compared to the beauty and peace of Woman Lake.

   Family and “The Cabin” was everything to Marty. His biggest dream in life was to secure the cabin and make it a place for the family to gather for generations to come. We have every intention to honor that Dad. In his later years he was happiest sitting by the lake and feeding any of the animals that came by- except the squirrels- those he trapped and painted their tails then released them. If you see a squirrel with a pink tail you know who did it now).

   After the kids flew the coop and he retired, Marty busied himself with the arts. He became a student of Mark Twain and Robert Service. He also became a woodsman making intricate boxes and perfectly balanced windmills. He would winter in Ohio near his sisters and was involved in The Church during the day and his woodshop in the basement at night. 

   Marty is survived by his six children; Chrissy (Brian) Shermock, Shara (Dave) Stone, Billy (Mo) McDonough, Matt (Angel) Wagner, Charley (Dawn) Wagner and Anna (Matt) McElduff and all of his beautiful grandchildren. 

   Marty also left behind a wonderful family of friends at May Creek Memory Care in Walker, MN. Our family is forever grateful to the residence and staff who made him smile so much in his last year. 

   There will be a celebration of life in the summer of 2026.

   You can celebrate Marty by finding a quiet place to sit and watch the birds, find a new hobby, or paint a squirrel’s tail.  

   Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service, serving Northern Minnesota. 

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