Martin Joseph Lipske

HURLEY, Wis. - Martin Joseph Lipske, 69, of Hurley, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, with his loving family at his side.

Marty was born on Oct. 30, 1954, to Joseph and Caroline (Boho) Lipske of Upson, "'The center of the universe,"' as he always said.

Marty attended Hurley High School and graduated with the class of 1972. He continued his education and graduated from Gogebic Community College and Marquette University with a major in history and minor in philosophy. He then achieved his Juris Doctorate degree from Hamline Law School.

On July 22, 1994, Marty married Lauri Kutz at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley. They remember walking alongside one another at their graduation ceremony in 1972, and reconnected years later. Marty took Lauri golfing and they had a lot of fun together. Any other man would heavily contemplate taking on six more kids with a second marriage but not Marty, he was all in and flourished through it all.

Marty served Iron Country as district attorney for 20 years and was elected Prosecutor of the Year by his peers in 2016. He also impacted many students while teaching philosophy at GCC for many years. In his "'retirement,"' he continued to serve as public defender for Iron, Ashland and Bayfield counties until the day he died.

During his lifetime, Marty enjoyed spending time with his family, deepening his faith, cheering on the Green Bay Packers and playing golf. Marty had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. He was generous, loyal and kind. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences. Marty could recite the 1977 Milwaukee Braves lineup and batting averages of all the players. He could tell you every president and the years they were in office. Marty had a knack for numbers and could remember the smallest of details. He will be remembered for the giant heart he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them, and if you knew him, you knew it. Marty took every opportunity to help others and did everything with honesty and integrity. He had very strong values and was well liked by everyone, mostly due to his positive energy. Marty had incredible patience, and always made time to help others. His legacy will carry on forever reminding us that we control our attitudes. We choose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service, like Christ modeled for us. He loved fiercely and deeply, and we take comfort in knowing that Marty is now at peace surrounded by light. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength and full of love for those who went before him. He will be missed dearly.

Marty was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and served as Grand Knight for many years with the Knights of Columbus.

Marty is survived by and will remain in the hearts of those who loved him dearly: his wife, Lauri; his children and their spouses, Maleah, Meghan (Josh), Danny, Pete (Gina), Monica, Michaela (James), Marisa (Dave), Christine (Rick), Chuck (Rose) and Katie. He will be forever cherished and remembered by his 9.5 grandchildren, Tony, Magda, Lucy, Frankie, Van, Theo, Zeke, Leon, Esme and Ziggy. Also surviving are two sisters, Jan Johnson and Carol "'Bea"' Peterson; his father-in-law, Lawrence Kutz; two brothers-in-law, John (Jean) Kutz and Larry Kutz; his sister-in-law, Sherry (George) Rubatt; numerous nieces and nephews, Mary Carol, Pam, Ricky, Lori, Mandy, Angie, Andrea, Alissa, Lawrence, Kyle, Melissa, Kristi and Jordan; and numerous other extended family members, friends and colleagues.

Preceding him to eternal life were his parents, Joe and Caroline Lipske; his mother-in-law, Geri Kutz; a niece, Kassandra Kutz; and a nephew, John Kutz.

Marty's family would like to give special thanks to the staff at the Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota, for the excellent care he received while there.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 404 Iron St., in Hurley, with the Rev. Hrudaya Raju Sunkara, celebrant.

The family extends an invitation to gather at the Iron Nugget for fellowship and food and an Old Fashioned toast to Marty immediately following the Mass.

Rite of Committal and interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery in Hurley, in the spring.

"'NEVER LET ANYTHING SO FILL YOU WITH SORROW THAT YOU FORGET THE JOY OF CHRIST RISEN."' - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc.,Wakefield, Michigan, is assisting the family. To send online condolences or to share a memory, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.