Walter F. Martineau, Jr. (1928-2018)

March 28--Walter F. Martineau, Jr., a Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient whose way with a story and command of detail aided a long career in the insurance business, died Friday at his home on Gilead Lake in Branch County, Michigan. He was 89.

He had cardio-respiratory failure and was in declining health, his daughter Catherine Martineau said.

Mr. Martineau, a longtime West Toledo resident, in retirement was active in the Orland, Ind., VFW near his lake home and used his woodworking skills on post projects.

A history major at St. Bonaventure University, Mr. Martineau while in the Army and assigned the 24th Infantry Division was made a medic of his company in the Korean War.

"He never wanted to talk about it," his daughter said. "We heard the funny stories until he got older, a lot older."

Mr. Martineau and his comrades were under heavy enemy fire Oct. 27, 1951, as they tried to take a hillside. He was shot in the left leg and joked that the red cross on his helmet made him conspicuous. On that date, for years afterward, he and his wife had a drink to toast "that the guy who shot him was a bad shot," his daughter said.

He was stabilized by a MASH unit. He'd later say he wished the personnel had been funnier, like the TV show -- and that they saved his life.

He underwent surgeries stateside. He resisted a suggestion that the leg be removed.

"He was bound and determined that he would play basketball and ski again," his daughter said. He had to wear a metal brace on his leg, and he was able to take part in pickup games with friends. Surgery in 2006 allowed him to stop wearing the brace.

Mr. Martineau was an independent insurance agent and retired in 1994 from the agency that had become Martineau, Miller, Bellg. He became associated 24 years earlier with Walter Senn to create the Senn-Martineau Insurance Agency.

Licensed in several states, Mr. Martineau made a specialty of corporate and professional liability coverage. He counted physician groups and oil drilling companies as clients, his daughter said.

He was good at math and understood risk -- and he liked to make presentations about precautions clients could take to lessen liability.

"He was a problem solver," his daughter said. He for a time lectured in finance and insurance at the University of Toledo. He tailored his anecdotes to his audience for maximum effect.

"He was a great salesman. He loved talking to people," his daughter said. "If he could drag out a story and make that funnier, he would."

He was born Nov. 22, 1928, in Syracuse, N.Y., to Helen and Walter Martineau. He was an athlete at his high school, Christian Brothers Academy, and played basketball at St. Bonaventure.

His father, an attorney, was an insurance official with New York state and was affiliated with Mutual of Omaha. Mr. Martineau went into the insurance business and worked for companies in Cleveland and Akron before settling in Toledo.

He and the former Merreck "Ricki" Voyer married June 30, 1950. She died Sept. 27, 1996. Afterward, he and Lois Holmes became companions, refinishing furniture and traveling the world together.

Surviving are his sons Walter F. III and Dennis Martineau; daughters Catherine Martineau, Tricia Martineau Wagner, and Beth Martineau White; brothers James and Paul Martineau, and eight grandchildren.

Services are pending at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Sturgis in care of Sturgis Hospital, Sturgis, Mich.

Contact Mark Zaborney at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.

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