In Memory

Martin Fowler

Martin Fowler


Fowler, Martin Gorrie Jr. 75, born on February 5, 1940, died from cancer on Tuesday, August 4th, 2015, at Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and brother. He leaves his son, Whitfield Fowler; his daughter, Brooke Nesset; former wife, Nordis Heyerdahl; granddaughters Linnea Fowler and Isabella Bernasconi; sister Mary Alice Fowler Morgan; and his dog, Fun (shown above with Marty).

Born in Minneapolis, the son of Martin and Alice Fowler, he grew up in St. Louis Park, MN. He graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1958, attended the University of Minnesota, and graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute with a BFA in photography. Later in life he completed an MFA in photography at Penn State University. He was a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Chi Psi fraternity, where he made many lifelong friends. After studying photography in school, Martin went on to a career in advertising and marketing. A highlight of his career was co-founding and running a business: the Marketing Alliance. This career also included working at Dayton's Department Store, Willis and Borg Advertising, M.R. Bolin, and Colle and McVoy.

Martin loved singing, liturgical music, and pipe organs in particular. He was a long-standing member of the St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral Choir and the Minnesota Chorale. He enjoyed and drew strength from his vocal lessons up until his final days. Commemorating this love, he donated a grand piano to St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, on Loring Park in Minneapolis, where his funeral was held on Friday, August 7, 2015 at Six O'Clock PM.  Marty essentially planned his own funeral.  The presiding Officiant, The Very Reverend Paul Lebens-Englund, announced that there would be no eulogy for Marty.  Instead, as Marty had wished, the readings, songs sang by the Cathedral Choir, and the music chosen, was Marty's personal testimony to us as participants in his funeral.  The liturgy for the dead, which Marty chose, is an Easter liturgy.  It finds all its meaning in the resurrection.  Marty wished us all to understand that because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.  The liturgy, therefore, was characterized by joy, in the certainty that neither death, nor life, nor angles, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  That was Marty's wish that we would appreciate his rejoice that he has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord.  The piano and organ music was, without doubt, the most incredible selections one may ever encounter in a funeral; and this reflective order of service has been done this way since 1662.  The psalms, lessons, hyms, and anthem "At Choral Evensong," sung by the choir, was its worship on behalf of those present.  In the Episcopal tradition, the congregation was invited to kneel for prayer, stand to sing and rejoice, and to sit for the lessons and homily.  Our very own classmate, James Kiewel, was a reader at Marty's funeral; he read from John 1:1-5.  At the reception afterwards Kiewel, along with a few others, told some funny stories about his past relationship with Martin Fowler.

In his later years he greatly enjoyed collecting, restoring, and driving his antique cars. Marty had sufficient time, as his illness progressed, to give a lot of thought to his funeral.  His choice of the  traditional choral evensong service was marked in part by his own design, and was held in his memory on Friday August 7th at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, followed by a private burial at Lakewood Cemetery.  Without a doubt, Martin Fowler was one of the most unique characters in our Class of 1958.  He was a member of our Glee Club, Canteen, Talent Show, was a photo-journalist for the "Echo," member of the Student Council and acted in our Senior Class Play.  Marty was indeed a "man for all seasons."



 
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08/19/15 10:53 AM #1    

Sue Halleen (Awes **)

There were about 16 of us who learned to dance everything from the lindy to the rhumba in junior high.  It must have been organized by our parents - and they even hired an instructor!  These classes were highlights for us for a couple of years.  We met either at Jack Williams (who moved to Edina about that time) - or at Marty's glorious ranch house on Excelsior Blvd.  We were all great friends and it was a sweet way to get over the awkwardness which accompanies boys and girls at that age.  Our group included - though I'll forget someone for sure - - Mary Enestvedt, Ann Cheleen, Careen Carlberg, Judy Gerber, Diane Burger and Bonnie Bagger - - - and Bob Erickson, Dick Arndt, Lowell Nelson, Ross LeGrand, Jack, Marty - and???  Anyway - it was such fun - and Marty's parents were so welcoming - and that house just perfect for such a crew.


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