Martin Dale Coughlin

“M&M” enjoyed a 70 year marriage that blessed them with nine children, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Marty is survived by his wife Marlys; children; Patricia (Mark) Zehrer, Eileen (Jim) Keller, Joan (Dave) Liane, Dave, Dan, Keith (Vidya) Coughlin, Nancy (Dave) Lauseng; grandchildren Daisy, Hannah, Michelle, Robyne, James, Michael, Kayla, Matt, Jennifer, Joe, Jacob and Ella; his great grandchildren; his sister Mary McCain and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Helen Coughlin, his sons Steven and Myron Coughlin, daughter-in-law Gretchen Coughlin, an infant brother Louis, great granddaughter Savannah; sister Leota and brother-in-laws Francis Kueser and Gene McCain.

Martin Dale Coughlin was born April 18, 1930 in Ottawa, Kansas, to James and Helen Coughlin.

Marty’s family moved to rural Richmond, Kansas when he was teenager. He attended preparatory school at Mount Carmel in Niagara Falls, Canada in preparation for the priesthood.

When the Korean War broke out, Marty enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served aboard several vessels in the U.S. Seventh Fleet before reporting to the U.S.S. Leyte, where he helped repair radio equipment. Marty’s Navy service was the grand adventure of his lifetime, taking him to far-flung places including San Diego, the Panama Canal and Japan.

When he returned home from the Navy, he met Marlys Gretencord. It was love at first sight and they never stopped adoring each other. They married on April 28, 1953 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Richmond. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Marty earned an electrical engineering degree and the couple welcomed their first daughter, Patricia.

Marty enjoyed a long and successful career in engineering. After moving to Minnesota, he was an NSP lineman and engineer for many years before taking a position at Control Data Corporation, where he helped develop the modern computer technology we now take for granted.

Marty was a man of many interests and passions. His hobbies included skating, creating stained glass, gardening, sewing, and tending his beloved grape vines. Marty and Marlys enjoyed traveling. Their trips took them to Europe and the West Coast, but some of their favorite vacations were to the Iron Range, where he and Marlys for years attended the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and enjoyed sightseeing trips with their kids and grandkids.

Marty and Marlys started learning French in their late 50s after a trip to Europe, and Marty started violin lessons in his 70s. The couple kept very physically active and would spend hours at the gym enjoying Tai Chi, swimming, skiing, snowshoeing and aerobics. Marty LOVED volunteering. He and Marlys helped in the North Memorial emergency room for many years and were recognized as Hennepin County Volunteers of the Year. They were also very involved in church activities at St. Margaret Mary and Sacred Heart Churches. He was also active in the Knights of Columbus and American Legion.

Faith was always central to Marty’s life. He would have made a wonderful priest, but God had other plans, and gave us an even better husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, neighbor and friend. Marty set a wonderful example of how to live life. Rest in peace, Marty. You will be missed by many.

Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, May 18th at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 4087 West Broadway Robbinsdale, MN 55422. Visitation one hour prior to funeral service. Interment at Gethsemane Cemetery, New Hope, MN.