SSG (Ret) Martin I. Schwartz, 54, of Junction City, KS, passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Geary Community Hospital. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at the First Christian Church with Pastor Ronnie Roberts officiating. A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. the evening before at Johnson Funeral Home. Cremation will follow the service. A graveside inurnment service with military honors will take place at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be given in Martin's name to the Wounded Warrior Project and to Army Emergency Relief.
Martin was born on March 25th, 1966 to Paula (Sodilsky) and Samuel Schwartz in Augusta, Georgia. Martin was raised in a military family with two older brothers; Norman and Seth. The Schwartz family moved around as any military family does and in 1985, Martin graduated high school from London Central High School in Wycombe, England.
Following graduation, Martin enlisted in the United States Army as an Infantryman.
Despite their unlikely meeting, Martin met the love of his life, Lisa, in Junction City, Kansas through a mutual friend. They were married a year later on October 24th, 1992 in Clay Center, Kansas. Martin and Lisa grew as a couple and raised two children; Nikki and Alex.
In 2006, after dedicating 21 years of his life to the country he loved, Martin retired from the United States Army as a combat veteran. Following retirement, he continued on his path of serving and protecting by beginning a career in Law Enforcement; first with the Geary County Sheriff's Department in Junction City, Kansas and then as a Federal Police Officer at the Dept of Veterans Affairs in Augusta, Georgia.
Martin medically retired in 2014 following four failed back surgeries, as a result of an injury he sustained while in the Army.
Martin enjoyed fishing, gaming, catching up with old buddies, and spending time with family. He loved telling stories and had an infectious belly-laugh that could be heard from across the street. Martin loved his wife dearly and there was no greater pride in his life than his children. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
Survivors include his wife Lisa of the home in Junction City, KS; one daughter, Nikki Nolz and her husband Zach of Sioux Falls, S.D.; one son, Alex Schwartz of Junction City, KS; his mother, Paula Schwartz of Augusta, GA; two brothers, Norman Schwartz and his wife Carolyn of Grovetown, GA and Seth Schwartz and his wife Jean of Hephzibah, GA; two brothers-in-law, Gary Robinson and his wife Bev of Scottsdale, AZ and Bill Robinson and his wife Kathy of Clay Center, KS; as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, family and military brothers.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sol and Kate Sodilsky and Joe and Ann Schwartz; his father, Samuel Schwartz; father-in-law and mother-in-law Clayton and Juanita Robinson.
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