Francis G. Martell August 15, 1928 – January 19, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Sympathy Card Francis G. Martell, 90, of Chippewa Falls, WI passed away on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 at Dove Healthcare – Wissota Health & Regional Vent Center in Chippewa Falls. He was born August 15, 1928 in Chippewa Falls, the son of George A. and Evelyn (Harvey) Martell. At the early age of 4 he earned the name of “Pal” from his dad’s friends.
Francis used to join his dad on radio service calls after which they would sometimes stop at the bar for a beer; when they walked in the friends would always say “I see you have your Pal with you”. The name stuck. Francis graduated from McDonell High School in 1947.
He enlisted in the Air Force and did his training in electronics in Biloxi MS. He completed his training at the top of his class and was given his choice of assignments. He served in Michigan and eventually North Dakota where he met his lovely bride, Hjordis.
The couple was married on August 30, 1952 in Moorhead, MN. Hjordis and Francis were blessed with 9 children, followed by 24 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren (and counting). Francis was a loving and generous father.
He enjoyed boating on Lake Wissota with his family and friends. Each night when he returned home from working he would walk in the door and say “Ho Ho Ho it’s Daddy O” and the little kids would run to him for a hug. Francis also enjoyed square dancing and playing cards with a group of friends that formed a club back in 1961.
He was an active member in the Knights of Columbus, Moose Club and the UCT. In 2017 he was honored to receive a lifetime service award from the KC’s for 65 years of service. Francis was an entrepreneur owning and operating several different businesses.
When he returned from the service in 1952 he started Martell TV with his brother Art. In 1968 he purchased the Dunn County Reminder newspaper in Menomonie, WI. He eventually moved back to Chippewa Falls in 1969 where he opened a TV and repair shop on Bay Street and was an Admiral TV dealership.
Francis was very well known in the community as the TV repairman as he never turned away a service call, and was always very fair in his dealings with customers. He passed down the knowledge and skill of repairing TV’s and installing antennas to his sons as he had them assist him on these calls. In the early 70’s he went into real estate including part ownership in Chippewa Homes and a franchise in Realty World.
He operated Martell Realty on Bridge Street for many years. Once when asked about how he saw his life, he said he was offered a job right out of the Air Force that would have led him down a very different path. He would have had to live away from Chippewa, but it would have meant more wealth.
He turned it down as family meant everything to him. He said he liked to think of his legacy and wealth were in his children and grandchildren. Francis is survived by his four sons, Mike (Sandy) and Bruce (Marie) both of Chippewa Falls, Joe (Barb) of Marshfield, and Jeff of Cornell; three daughters, Laura (Ted) Sykora of Milton, Mary (Josh) Mooney of Amherst and Jenny (Chuck) Blunt of Wausau; one son in law, Jeff Bergeman and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is also survived by his sisters, Corky Rubenzer, Margie Paradise and Dorothy Bruhling; and sisters-in-law, Julie Schmidt, Wendy and RoJean Kjelvik and Lynn “Tootie” Hornak. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hjordis Ilene Kjelvik; a son, Doug Martell; a daughter, Sue Bergeman; a grandson, Richard Schlageter; and great grandson, Marcus Blunt; brothers, Art, Donny, George and Chuckie Martell and sisters, Betty Hayes, Rosemary Martell and Bev Hansen. A Visitation and Celebration of Francis’ life will be held on Thursday, January 24th at the Horan Funeral Home in Chippewa Falls.
Family and Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday or Friday morning between 9 and 10 a.m. The Knights of Columbus Goldsmith Council #974 will recite the rosary at 4 p.m. and there will be a Christian vigil service at 5 p.m. both on Thursday at the funeral home. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 25 at Notre Dame Church in Chippewa Falls. Rev.
Jesse Burish will be celebrant of the funeral mass with interment following at Hope Cemetery in Chippewa Falls. Military rites will be conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given in Francis’s memory to the St. Francesca Food Pantry.
Family and friends may express condolences online at www.
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