Marvelous Marv, born to William and Loretta Hoerth on Aug. 31, 1936, in Stockbridge, grew up on the family farm before venturing west to work for the railroads after graduation from New Holstein High School in 1954. He rode the rails back to Green Bay to work as a mechanic at Lou's Standard Service in the late '50s before returning to New Holstein to open Marv's Standard Service, repairing automobiles and pumping gas. He married Kathleen O'Brien on April 19, 1958, at St. James Church in Cooperstown.

In 1968, Marv and Kathy moved to Maribel, Wis., to operate The Pines tavern, a social gathering spot for local regulars and travelers passing through on Highway 151. After quenching thirsts, lending an ear, and turning off the 'open' light, he woke up a few hours later and made the one-hour trek back to New Holstein to work full-time in the testing lab at Tecumseh Engines.

He fine-tuned the performance of lawnmower and snowblower engines as an engineering lab technician for 30 years until retiring in March 1999.

Marv and Kathy moved back to New Holstein in 1974. While continuing his career at Tecumseh, Marv also gave back to his hometown by dedicating a third of his life to public service.

Voters elected him to the city council in 1985 and then for 12 more terms after that, serving in office until 2011. His work on the council included chairing the Board of Health, Board of Public Works, and Airport Commission.
He also served on the Planning Commission and helped negotiate labor contracts. Marv was also a 10-year board member of the New Holstein Historical Society from 1985-1995.

In between, he found time to participate in bowling and softball leagues, pitched horseshoes, and was unbeatable in lawn darts.

As a Green Bay Packer season ticket holder since 1957, Marv's reputation as a fan was legendary. Besides loyal attendance at regular season games, he froze in the stands during the Ice Bowl, froze again 40 years later in the NFC championship game against the Giants, partied in New Orleans for Super Bowl XXXI, and thrilled visitors to his home with extensive team memorabilia.

His sense of humor and lifelong youthful zest for life entertained all who knew him. His humble service to others and love for his family was unmatched. Marv was always willing to help others while asking nothing in return.

A sentimental big-hearted guy, he snapped thousands of photos of friends and family.

Birthdays and holidays inevitably meant a mushy greeting card was in the mail.
Recipients of those cards include his surviving wife of 53 years, Kathleen; two sons and a daughter, Jeff and Kellie Hoerth of Kirkland, Wash., Greg Hoerth and special friend, Diane LeClair of Fall City, Wash., and Jennifer and John Cook of Issaquah, Wash.; three grandchildren, Tamara, Max, and Eva; a twin sister, Marlene Schneider of Kiel, and a brother, Ronald Hoerth of Manitowoc; sisters-in-law Mary Hoerth, MaryAnn O'Brien, and Colleen O'Brien; brothers-in-law Donald Kemnitz and Fr. William O'Brien; more than a dozen nephews and nieces, two aunts, an uncle, hundreds of friends and thousands of acquaintances.

He was preceded in death and reunites in heaven with a son, Ricky, a brother, Gene, his parents, and many other friends and relatives with whom he shared good times.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Holy Rosary Church at 1724 Madison Street in New Holstein with Father Harold Berryman officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Family and friends may pay their respects from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at Sippel Funeral Home, 2618 Altona Avenue in New Holstein and also on Friday morning at the funeral home from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

A very heartfelt thanks goes to the many caregivers, friends, neighbors, hospital and nursing home staff who reached out to aid Dad as his challenges became insurmountable.

The world is a much better place for Marv having been here. Now heaven can make the same claim.

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