Alta Mae (Porath) Martin

Alta was born on October 4, 1929 in Escanaba, the daughter of Richard C. and Rose (Presse) Porath. She attended school in Escanaba, graduating on June 5, 1947 from the Escanaba Senior High School. Alta worked for the Delta Hardware Company and Morley Murphy Company in their bookkeeping departments. She then worked several years for the Rapid River Cheese Company. In September of 1971, she accepted a position with the Rapid River Public Schools as an administrative secretary to the superintendent. She held that position for twenty years retiring on July 31, 1991.

Alta married Robert R. Martin on June 4, 1949, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Rapid River, and moved to Rapid River in 1952. She was a member of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Rapid River, the Rapid River Four Townships Senior Citizens, and the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel.

Alta enjoyed going to their camp in the Ogontz area and enjoyed biking, bowling, camping, walking, playing cards, baking and canning. In her earlier years, she loved dancing, especially polkas and followed all the polka bands in the area with her husband. She also loved ice skating and rollerskating. She was active in school, church, and community affairs and was a 4-H leader for many years. She was an avid bird watcher and was well known for her jelly and jam making that she shared with everyone. She was active in school functions and was P.T.C. President and Secretary for the club. She thoroughly enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s school and sporting events.

While her husband, Robert, was a resident at Christian Park Village in Escanaba, she volunteered her services serving coffee and homemade goodies for over three years. She was chosen volunteer of the year for the years 2003 and 2004 in recognition of outstanding service. She was married for 55 years to her husband Robert and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Alta is survived by two daughters, Mary Poma and Patricia (Richard) DeGrave; grandchildren, Robert (Kristina) Poma, Richard (Katie) Poma, and Amy (Brian Roberts) Martin; great-grandchildren, Jae and Julia Poma, Alexander and Gwenyth Poma, Ayana Martin and Aiden Snouwaert, and Easton and Enley Roberts; sisters, Edna Oslund of Kingsford, Dorothy Drefs of Escanaba, and Betty (Wm. Gary) Hahn of Cornell; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and sister-in-law Raeburn Porath.

In addition to her parents and her husband Robert “Bob”, who passed on September 27, 2004, she was preceded in death by her brothers Cyril, Harold, and twin brother Glen and Wren; twin sisters Elaine Porath and Evelyn Poquette; daughter Cheryl who died at birth; grandson Alan Mengel who died at birth; son-in-law Russel Poma; brothers-in-law David Oslund, Woodrow Johnson, Clarence Martin, Donald Martin, Ben Viau, Paul Drefs, and Sam “Bud” Poquette; sisters-in-law Nancy Porath, Jean Johnson, Jeanette Martin, June Martin, Ruth Viau, Marjorie Martin, and twins Doris and Dorothy Martin.

Family will receive friends on Sunday, November 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Services honoring Alta will begin at 3 p.m. with Pastor Daniel Van Beek officiating. A luncheon will follow services in the First Presbyterian Church hall in Escanaba. To offer online condolences, please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Martin family.