Conrad Martin “Marty” Gavinski, Jr.

PORTAGE – Conrad Martin “Marty” Gavinski, Jr., 80, of Portage, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026, following a long battle with cancer.

Marty was born on March 10, 1946, in Portage, WI, to Conrad and Esther (Kobza) Gavinski.  He was one of the first group of students to attend St. Mary Catholic School.  After graduating from Portage High School in 1964, Marty earned an accounting degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1968 and completed his CPA exam in 1972. While at UW-Whitewater, he met Sharon “Sherry” Eckhardt and they were married on August 15, 1970.

He began his accounting career at a CPA firm in Madison before returning to Portage in 1973.  He went on to serve as the controller for ABG Plastics and later became CFO and co-owner at Penda Corporation and TriEnda.  Over the years, he also owned 51 Classics and Title Experts, LLC.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Marty earned nine varsity letters in high school for football, basketball, and baseball and later found a love for men’s fastpitch softball. That passion stayed with him, and he spent more than 40 years coaching numerous teams, especially at St. Mary and Portage High Schools. He was also a devoted fan, holding season tickets for the University of Wisconsin Badgers for football and basketball, as well as the Green Bay Packers.  He and Sherry spent their summers playing golf as members of Portage Country Club.

Many people remember Marty for his coaching voice echoing throughout the gym, but it was his generous spirit and dedication to giving back that was felt most throughout the Portage community.  He was a founding member of the Greater Portage Youth Education Foundation to raise funds for a new high school, served as president of the Portage Area Economic Development Corporation, volunteered for 50 years on the St. Mary Church finance committee, and was president and board member for Portage Country Club. In 2007, he was inducted into the Portage High School Hall of Fame.

Marty is survived by his wife, Sherry; his three children: Tom, Todd (Anjie), and Gregg (Sarah); seven grandchildren; sisters, Joann (Gary) Armson and Deb (Bill) Schumann; sister-in-law, Sue Gavinski; brother-in-law, John (Sandy) Eckhardt; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, L.H. and Gwen Eckhardt; and brother, Steve Gavinski.

The family would like to thank Dr. Justine Bruce and her team from the UW Carbone Cancer Center, Dr. Jill Pogorelec at Aspirus, Dr. Joseph Holt at UW Hospital, and the staff at the Serenity House in Tomah, WI, for their care.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage, with Rev. Randy Timmerman presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery in Portage. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage and from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. on the day of the funeral at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family for St. Mary Catholic School, the Portage Warrior Fund, or Serenity House.

1946-2026: It’s not the start date or the end date; it’s the dash in between that counts!