Martina Huffman

BLOOMINGTON, WI - Martina Wegmann Huffman ended her earthly existence in Manistee, Michigan and began her forever on Sunday, October 15, 2023.

She was born on November 15, 1956, to Oscar & Coletta Wegmann, their second child and grew up on the family dairy farm on Blakes Prairie, in Grant County, Wisconsin. The family grew in size until Martina had 3 sisters and a brother.

Martina was always a happy child and it is difficult to find a photo at any time of her life that does not include her captivating smile.

After graduation from Bloomington High School with a tight knit group of friends, Martina continued her education and received her BSc in Food Technology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After her first employer sold his business, Martina decided to change her life and spent additional time in graduate studies.

Her career was long, broad, and interesting. Coupled with self-confidence, growing experience, a quick mind and a well-grounded point of view, Martina moved seamlessly and successfully through candy and chocolate manufacturing to General Mills, Pepperidge Farms, Godiva Chocolatier and across the USA with extensive domestic and European travel. She made bagels, packed dried fruit (“Call them dried plums, not prunes!”), ran a development laboratory for a perfume manufacturer and an analytical laboratory for Fleischmann yeast as well as managing state-wide Food Safety programs for The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

 She enjoyed working in and helping plant floor employees succeed more than performing “office work”, even though her voice and decision-making abilities were fully recognized throughout organizations.  She particularly enjoyed working in California vineyards, deciding when the grapes were ready for harvest and participating in multiple tasting parties (both at home and at work)!

Vineyard employees and their families gravitated to Martina’s smile and were rewarded with her intellect and desire to improve their lives.

Martina had fun in everything she did and was dedicated to excellence in work and happiness in her spare time. Her personality drove her search for excellence and her constant desire to end every day relaxing and laughing with colleagues and friends.

Martina was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar & Coletta. She will be ineffably missed by her husband, Patrick Huffman and their family; children John (Jakeisha) and their 3 children, Teran, Dorian and Peyton, Jeffrey (Stephanie) and their 3 children Jackson, Luke, and Katherine Grace, and Anne Gilmore (Erik), their daughter, Madeleine as well as Martina’s sisters, Angela Krogman (John) and their 2 children Ken (Amber) and Steve, Beth Wegmann, Patty Sena (Paul), and her brother Mark (Mary) and their 3 children Emily, Michael, and Madison and innumerable friends across the food manufacturing landscape

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington, WI with Father Mark Miller officiating. Family and friends may call on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.  A reception and luncheon will follow at the church (Martina loves parties) and Martina’s remains will accompany Pat to their home in Michigan.

Final arrangements are being managed by Oak Grove Funeral Home in Manistee, MI and Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Bloomington, WI.