- Date Of Birth: February 24, 1922
- Date Of Death: March 8, 2013
- State: Illinois
Merlin J. “Mickey” MartyMickey Marty of Galesburg has been called home by our heavenly father. He died at Rosewood Care Center on March 8, 2012 at 3:10 p.m. surrounded by many of his loving family. He was born the oldest of twin sons on February 24, 1922 in Dubuque, Iowa to George and Margaret (McManus) Marty.
As a high school junior, Mickey led his Columbia Academy basketball team to victory in the Iowa Catholic High School tournament in 1939. As a senior, he led his team to the consolation bracket championship of the National Catholic tournament in Chicago, and received the tournament’s Outstanding Individual Player Award. Mickey married Dorothy Iris Keller at a 7:00 a.m. mass at Sacred Heart Church, Dubuque, Iowa on April 18, 1942. They were blessed with nine children who survive; six sons, Michael (Cecilia) Marty of Belluvue, IA; Jerry (Peggy) Marty of Dubuque, IA; Pat (Lynne) Marty of Hazelgreen, WI; Dan (Phyllis) Marty, Dave (Debbie) Marty and Jeff (Starr) Marty, all of Galesburg; and three daughters; Barbara (and the late Jack) Stevenson of Galesburg; Mary Kay (Van) Adkisson of Roseville, IL and the youngest of the Marty clan; Kara (Dave) Adams of Gulfport, MS.
Mickey and Dorothy’s children also blessed them with 31 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren with number 52 on the way. Mickey joined the Marines in 1943. At the Marine Corps Base San Diego, he received the Honor Badge of Efficiency award as the top recruit in his class and was named Drill Instructor for the next two cycles of new recruits. He was then assigned to the El Toro, California Marine Base basketball team which won 55 consecutive games. After basketball, he was shipped out to Pacific Theater where he was assigned combat duty until the end of WWII. He was discharged on Christmas Day 1945.
Upon returning home to his wife and two sons, Mickey resumed his college and basketball career at Loras College. He was named a Converse All-American in 1948, the first ever from a small college to be named to a major college All-American team. He graduated Cum-Laude in just over 3 years with a degree in Economics. After college, he taught and coached in Mason City, IA and Austin, MN. Mickey was a play-by-play announcer on radio as well as top sports official alongside his brother, Milt, during the 1950’s in Iowa. He was general manager at Crestlane Bowling Center in Dubuque for six years from 1959 to 1965. He came to Galesburg in 1965 as manager of Northgate Lanes and worked there until his retirement in 1982. Many Galesburg residents remember Mickey’s radio bowling program on WGIL/WAIK in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Mickey is a Hall of Fame member at Loras College, is in the Iowa High School Association Hall of Fame, as well as the Galesburg Bowling Association Hall of Fame. During retirement, Mickey and Dorothy spent years as snowbirds; first in Harlingen Texas and then in Port Charlotte Florida. In Harlingen, Mickey was activities director at Sunshine RV Park and used his 2nd language skills teaching Mexican children to speak English. In Port Charlotte, he volunteered at the local hospital. Mickey lost the love of his life, his beloved wife of 63 years, on June 28, 2005.
Also preceding him in death was his twin brother Milton, a grandson Ron Marty, his first great–grandson Daniel Koerperich and a great-granddaughter Kaylee Elizabeth Adkisson. In his final years, Mickey devoted his time to Corpus Christi Church while he counted each and every day until he could be reunited with his beloved wife.
