Obituary: Kofmehl, Martin Joseph, Jr. “Marty”
He attended Gonzaga University, leaving school to take on family responsi-bilities.
Never losing his love for Gonzaga, he was often found sporting GU gear.
Marty served in the US Army from October 1, 1942 - October 1, 1945, nearly losing his life when the half-track crew, of which he was a member, was attacked.
After six months recovering in England, he spent another year in Baxter Hospital in Spokane; carrying shrapnel to his grave and losing full use of his right arm.
Having been a bowler and golfer, this disability was a challenge.
Friends convinced him to not give up these sports but to become a leftie.
And boy did he ever!
After outperforming his ‘Aces 5” license plate and earning approximately 10 holes-in-one, Marty humbly said it was ‘just so much luck’, while taking pleasure retelling how some of them played out.
The one into a trash can at Liberty Lake was not counted but the ‘foul’ story was a good one!
He was well known in the fields of bowling and golfing, traveling the country for tournaments, his volunteer work laser rating regional golf courses, and working up a pocket sized tri-fold schedule.
His family life took a turn after the war.
He and his brothers returned, as so many did, carrying physical and emotional scars that took some years to get beyond.
During this period a divorce severed his relationship with wife, Mary Alice Jensen and their two boys.
It would be sixty-six years before he sadly discovered Alice had passed in 1984 but was able to reunite with his two sons.
With the war behind him and his family broken, he picked himself up and started a new life.
Marty found a career in the US Postal Service, retiring after about 40 years as Post Master of the Manito Post Office.
He could retell some great stories about working on the mail cars and the mail trucks, processing mail while moving down our nation’s rail and highways.
He found happiness in a second marriage to Mary Georgia Venovitch; doting on each another for 62 years.
Georgia passed New Year’s Eve 2011, leaving a large void.
Marty filled it with friends and family and ‘ummy yummy’ food whenever possible.
Four of his five siblings, Bill ‘Ace Bulldog” Kofmehl, Mary Cremeans, Joann Kofmehl Eagan Farrish and Patricia Goyins, also preceded him in death.
He is survived by his brother, Richard J.
(Bonnie) Kofmehl of Spokane, sister-in-law, Helen J. Venovitch Walley of Arroyo Grande, CA, two sons, Martin J.
(Jeanette) Kofmehl Brooks III of Kamas, UT and Gary M. (Kate) Kofmehl Brooks, Sun River, OR, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family sends out their appreciation to his neighbors who helped Georgia and Marty in their golden years and kept an eye on Marty after Georgia’s death and shared many ‘ummy yummy’ items.
The Kofmehl’s were the rock of the neighborhood having been there when the arterial fronting their home was just a dirt road, some 65 years ago.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Fatima, 34th and Perry, on July 16, 2013 at 11am with a reception to follow.
A Graveside Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7200 N. Wall, at 1:30.
Please visit Marty’s online memorial at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com, and leave a message of condolence.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: