Marty Laughlin

Martin "Marty" Francis Patrick Laughlin was born on January 29, 1935 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Frank & Lucy (Martin) Laughlin. His entire life was spent on the family farm one-half mile west of Imogene-"on the sunny side." He and his sister Ann enjoyed making many happy memories there. He received his education at St. Patrick Academy graduating from high school on May 24, 1953. He then began farming full-time with his father. He loved working the land and raising cattle -and for a time hogs. He spent many long, happy hours in his fields. Despite getting his right hand caught in a grinder on December 30, 1967, he relearned to grip with less feeling in his three middle fingers and continued to farm. He was a hard worker during the week and never missed having a good time on the weekend. As a member of the Lasalle Club, he headed to Omaha, NE on May 5, 1967 little knowing that at a polka dance at the Polish Home he would meet his future wife-Margaret Stastny. They began dating on September 24, 1967 and surprised everyone by getting engaged on November 23rd of that same year. They were married at the original St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Omaha, N...[more]

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n July 13, 1968...a 100+ degree day. They were blessed with 13 children-3 passing away before birth in 1972, 1978 and 1982. Marty was known far and wide-the word "stranger" was not in his vocabulary. With an upbeat personality, an Irish twinkle in his blue eyes and a big smile on his face, he easily struck up a conversation with everyone he met. We also knew him as a quiet, intelligent and unassuming man who really enjoyed all the simple things in life. He attended countless wakes and was a faithful visitor to people in hospitals and nursing homes. He was a lifetime member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Imogene. In his youth he was an Altar Boy. In his adult life, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus-appearing in many of their yearly programs, a Lector, and a member of the Parish Council. He enjoyed serving as Grand Marshal of the 2000 Imogene St. Patrick's Day parade, planning the 2001 St. Patrick Academy reunion, attending Laughlin reunions, and celebrating "Marty Draw" the day before Ash Wednesday. He was a Pinochle and Pitch player and for many years until February 2013 played Bridge with friends every Monday night. He was always willing to be a substitute player when needed. The newspaper Jumble puzzle was his daily challenge. He loved attending cattle sales several times a week and watching them on TV, morning coffee with friends, riding here and there in his pickup "checking things out", and always had time to visit with friends at the kitchen table or out in his shed over a mixed drink ("I'll have a whiskey and water") or a beer or two. He was known for his white crew cut, overalls, signature straw hat with green visor and being a snappy dresser when he needed to. For many December's he enjoyed playing Santa Claus for the Knights of Columbus and the town of Imogene. He especially enjoyed dancing; watching old-time shows especially westerns, listening to current political and farm shows, polka shows, backing Notre Dame, dabbling in the stock market, celebrating his Irish heritage and serenading family and friends on their birthdays. From 1974-2002, he could be found in the stands at Farragut School cheering on his children and watching their various programs. In later years, many weekends were spent watching softball games in Imogene or his grandchildren starting to play sports. He spent many hours teaching his children how to drive a lawnmower, tractor, and eventually a car. They spent time together each Good Friday planting potatoes and "walking beans" each summer. He would tell them bedtime stories that most often would begin "It was a dark and stormy night." Then he would make them the main characters in the story. He was always ready to thumb wrestle, show you his strong grip and pretend to steal a little one's nose. He enjoyed fooling as many family members as he could each April Fool's Day. One of his greatest joys was planting and giving away sweet corn. He always wished he could tag each ear just to see how many people enjoyed his efforts. For years he would grow huge pumpkins. He always had a big garden when his children were at home. After they all left home, he moved the garden closer to his house and carefully tended his onions, radishes and tomatoes. He also enjoyed giving away his deer jerky. He was proud of his restored 1953 Farmall M tractor-a gift from his family that was completed earlier this year. He planned to drive it in local parades. He only was able to drive it up and down his lane once. He was very active and "young at heart" until Sunday February 10, 2013. Marty had just stepped inside the Shenandoah High School to watch two grandsons wrestle when he went into sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to the efforts of many medical personnel, we were able to tell him how much he was loved over the next 88 days. He was recovering from successful open heart surgery when he had an extreme reaction to Heparin that resulted in total body weakness and watershed strokes. While bravely fighting to overcome this, he was diagnosed with ARDS and pneumonia on March 31 - Easter Sunday morning. He was placed on a ventilator in hopes time would help him recover. We are thankful to so many for the countless prayers offered on his behalf. His body was so weakened by multiple traumas, that it was God's will that Marty "come home" to Him on the beautiful spring evening of May 8, 2013 after enjoying 78 years of his life on earth to the fullest. With Irish music in the background and surrounded by his family, he passed peacefully into eternal life. On the morning before the biggest physical challenge of his life, a new purchase had become marred and Margaret mentioned she had nothing good around the house. With his impish boyish grin Marty replied "I'm good!" How right he was. His family thanks God for every precious moment He created for us to share with this God-loving, hard-working, fun-loving family man. He was a man who knew what he wanted and did what he wanted. Margaret will especially miss his strong deep voice, their daily back and forth repartee, seeing his white pickup coming up the front lane each morning with the newspaper, mail in the afternoon, and often groceries when he headed to town, telling him what famous person from their era was having a birthday or what happened on the date long ago on her perpetual calendar, hearing his disguised voice on the phone trying to trick her into answering survey questions, watching him take a few freshly baked cookies off the cookie sheet, calling "Marty, come and eat!", making him steak and mashed potatoes and his yearly birthday cherry pie, his presence next to her in their pew at church - she will miss everything about her best friend. Those left to cherish his memory and forever miss him are his wife of 44 years Margaret, children-Patty Laughlin, Colleen Laughlin and Kathleen Laughlin (Omaha, NE); Peggy Brand &husband Bob (North Bend, NE); Frank Laughlin & wife Carol (Papillion, NE); Eileen Heller & husband Mike (Omaha, NE); Jerry Laughlin (Imogene, IA), Rita Laughlin (Sidney, IA), Pauline Laughlin (Omaha, NE) and Marie Knapp & husband Christian (Lincoln, NE).; grandchildren Sean, Owen, Meg & Ethan Laughlin, Chase Heller and Lochlan Brand; sister Ann and husband Justin Owens of Imogene, IA, nieces and nephews Rick & Linda Owens (Clarinda, IA), Luann & Mike Pribyl (Council Bluffs, IA), Rosie & Roger Dailey and Kent & Sherry Owens (Imogene, IA), Cheri & Kris Delehant (Norfolk, NE), Marty & Karla Owens (Council Bluffs, IA), Dean & Kerry Owens (Shawnee Mission, KS) and Larry & Heather Owens (Omaha, NE) and their families, cousins and countless friends and acquaintances. In Marty's honor, those attending the services are asked to wear a touch of green. Memorials may be directed to the St. Patrick Church Building Fund.