Kenneth J. Martin, age 77, of Sheboygan, died on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Sheboygan Progressive Care Center. He was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin February 9,1947 to the late John Wellington and Annabelle (Manning) Martin.
The family lived in De Pere, Wisconsin until 1952 when the father’s job took them to Huron, South Dakota and later to Clark, South Dakota where Kenneth began first grade. In 1955 they moved to Winona, Minnesota where he attended Saint Thomas School. Later that year the family moved to Austin, Minnesota where he attended Columbus, Saint Augustine and Queen of Angels schools. In 1958 the family moved to Wisconsin Rapids where he attended Saint Vincent de Paul School. In 1960 Kenneth moved with his family to Sheboygan where he attended Holy Name school, Urban Junior High, finally graduating from North High class of 1965. Kenneth was a 1967 graduate of the New York Institute of Photography.
In 1967 he married Carol Drexler of Sheboygan at St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Sheboygan. The couple lived on Center Avenue and had one daughter, Dawn Marie, her father’s pride and joy, and who later married Justin Ritter to give him his three grandchildren, Finnegan, Clare and Molly Ritter who he loved dearly.
Began his career as a produce manager for Food Queen Supermarket in Sheboygan. Worked as a photographer for Sills Photography Sheboygan, as an Artist/Photographer for Jacobson Advertising Sheboygan, Art Director for Hubbard Associates Advertising in Milwaukee, Plymouth Review Newspaper Plymouth Wisconsin, American Newspaper Group Phoenix Arizona. Worked for a time as a concrete finisher for Wayne Lesperance. Entered the printing trade in 1984 working for Diamond Business Forms (later called Rotary Graphics) Sheboygan as a prepress technician and later at Johnsonville Sausage in the packaging Department, in 1990 he partnered with Greg Prader to form a construction company working primarily in Milwaukee building apartments. He ended his long career by working for 17 years starting as a process camera operator for Times Printing in Random Lake, Wisconsin, later moving into the electronic prepress area where he specialized in scanning, image manipulation and photo restorations, retiring in 2007.
Was a lifelong Roman Catholic who rejected the Vatican II Council and remained a true Catholic in the Tridentine Rite. Kenneth and his wife Carol Martin taught religious classes at Saint Nicholas school in Dacada, Wisconsin under Father McGary. Was an active member of Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Waubeka, Wisconsin where he served as an usher.
Kenneth enjoyed art and design, computers, long walks, dining out, religious reading and photography, especially photo restorations.
Worked at cemetery remapping with partner and friend Shirley Horn.
Was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John.
Survived by his daughter Dawn Ritter; three grandchildren, Finnegan, Clare and Molly Ritter; five brothers David (Cindy) of Duluth, Michael (Dawn), Larry (Mary), Patrick (Penny); two sisters Mary (Scott) Hildebrand of Sheboygan and Jean Haldane of Ojibwa, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Patty of Sheboygan. He is further survived by his most treasured friend Ashley Timmel. Lastly but not least by his dear friend Noreen Higginbotham and her four children Rosemary, Anthony, Michael and Jotham.
There will be a time of visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12th St., Sheboygan, concluding with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Waubeka, Wisconsin. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Sheboygan.
