WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Martha Kolesar, of Wakefield, Michigan, passed away peacefully at her home, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, surrounded by friends.

Martha was born to Paul and Betty Kolesar from Ironwood. Her father served in the U.S. Air Force and the family moved frequently, being stationed at air force bases around the country. Martha was born in Burlington, Vermont, and as a young girl she moved to Bangor, Maine, and then to the island of Bermuda. From there the family moved to Travis Air Force Base in California, where her father flew missions to Vietnam.The family vacationed to exotic places such as Honolulu, Hawaii; the Sierra Nevada Mountains; Disneyland and SeaWorld. They also traveled to the Upper Peninsula during the summers.

When her father retired the family settled in Wakefield, moving into the red brick mining house on the corner of Old U.S. 2. Martha graduated from Wakefield High School and went on to have two children, Eric Sandquist and Justine Montgomery, who also graduated from WHS.

Martha worked as a waitress at local restaurants and knew almost everyone in town. She also had a great memory and would greet visitors that returned to the diner season after season. She worked in the winter making Christmas ornaments and made her own crafts at home. She was known for making her wind chime creations made from silver spoons, forks and knives and decorated them with beads. She sold them but mostly they were gifted to family and friends, nieces and nephews.

Martha had a flair for interior decorating and kept a beautiful home on Neidhold Avenue in Wakefield. She had many guests to her house and always offered a place to stay to family and friends who traveled to the U.P. Her hobby was collecting antiques, collectibles and jewelry. In the summer she went to craft fairs, flea markets and garage sales, oftentimes searching for treasures for other people that she knew. When she saw a valuable item that someone else would have collected, she would call them and buy it for them.

Martha touched the hearts of everyone she knew. She was giving and caring and when she cracked a joke she would snicker with a little smile. She was a fighter too. She struggled with a long illness and put up a good fight, and never gave up hope. She'll be missed by all.

Martha is survived by two children, Eric (Rebecca) Sandquist and their four children, and Justine (Justin) Montgomery and their two children; and five brothers and sisters, Kathy Kolesar, Green River, Wyoming, Paul Kolesar, Bessemer, John (Pattie) Kolesar, Green River, Leslie Kolesar, Saxon, Wisconsin, and Laurie Smith, Zionsville, Indiana.