Martin Thomas Faitak Jr.'s Obituary
Martin T. “Marty” Faitak, Jr., was born on September 17, 1934, in Gary, Indiana. He died on July 10, 2023, at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Marty grew up surrounded by family, and was close to his parents, Martin Faitak and Rose (Mazzaro) Faitak, sister Veronica (Faitak) Garavalia, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. His father worked at U.S. Steel for 50 years, initially in Southern Indiana and then in Gary. They moved from Gary to East Gary, now Lake Station, Indiana, in 1946, to a house where both of his parents eventually died, his father in 1988 and his mother in 2012.
Marty was on the football team and made many life-long friends at East Gary Edison High School graduating in 1953. He started barber school in Chicago, and married Judith Ann Meyer in 1955. They had three children, Martin T. Faitak, III, Mark Allen Faitak, and Wendy Ann (Faitak) Race. They lived in Hobart and Crown Point, Indiana. Marty divorced and married Judith K. Somerville in 1983. They bought a house in Dyer, Indiana, with a barbershop in the front and a living residence in back. Except for a few years selling real estate when everyone was growing their hair long, Marty worked full time as a barber from ages 21 to 81.
After Judy died in 2012, not long after the death of his sister and mother, Marty moved to Arkansas. He made friends with numerous neighbors, store clerks, and fellow mall-walkers during his near-daily shopping adventures. He enjoyed watching University of Arkansas sports and going to the Naturals baseball games. He was always a great cook and made dinner for his son and daughter-in-law every Thursday night. He enjoyed time with his grandchildren, their families, and his great-grandson, Henry. For almost 60 years Marty would fish and vacation in and around Ludington, Michigan, and felt at peace there.
Marty was pre-deceased by his parents, two wives, sister, and grandson, Alex Race. He is survived by his sons, Marty (Sarah) and Mark (Diane), his daughter Wendy, his grandchildren Tom (Bonnie), Reed (Lou), Conner, and Brandon, and his great-grandson Henry.
A memorial service will be held in Northwest Indiana at a later date.
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