Sally Ann Martinez, age 57 of Merrillan, Wisconsin, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at her home on February 21, 2023.
She was born September 15, 1965 in Black River Falls Wisconsin, the daughter of Jack and Sandra (Simonson) Leffingwell. She married Francisco Martinez on October 5th, 2001.
Sally graduated from Alma Center Lincoln High School in 1983. In her early working life she did farm work, CNA work and various other things. Later in life, as a neurological disease took its hold of her; she transitioned into being a full time, ‘stay at home mother’ to her son Jose. This was the most important role of her life and Jose was her “miracle”. Sally’s life was not measured by the amount of money she made or any personal accolades, but in the love, time, effort and positive impact that she shared with people that needed it. In that measure there were few more successful.
Sally enjoyed spending time with her son, nieces and nephews and other family and friends as much as she could. She was always someone that was there to take a phone call when someone just needed to talk. She enjoyed fishing, cookouts with her family, playing cards, or just watching her favorite true crime shows or her favorite old black and white sitcoms. No matter what activity she was enjoying, she would always be doing it with a cold Diet Pepsi with the tab turned to the side.
Sally leaves a legacy of love that was shared with all of us. First with her mother and dear Grandmother and then with her loving son who she adored. Sally was love in its purest form and she shared it with everyone she came in contact with. In kind, we all loved her in return from her son, nieces and nephews, brother, sisters, aunts and uncles and all of her close friends. There is no doubt that she is with a great company of saints, singing and dancing and praising god.
Surviving Sally are her son Jose; Jose’s father Francisco; her siblings Denise Mathson, Jackie (Todd) McKevitt, Mike (Nicole) Laufenberg; her aunt Lavonne Chung and uncles Al Halverson, Thom Reed, Bob (Mary) Halverson; her step-mother Corky Laufenberg; her nieces and nephews Gabriel Leffingwell, Cecylia Mendoza Navarro, Ariana Lopez, Juan Lopez, Nick McKevitt, Ericka Cole, Travis Anderson, Derek Papenfus and Kayla Loew; along with many other step-siblings, cousins, family and friends.
Sally is preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents Walter Simonson, Emmanuel Lowe and her dear grandmother Margaret Simonson Lowe; her step-father Gerald Laufenberg; and her Niece Amanda Navarro.
Cremation Services have been tended to, per Sally’s wishes. A Celebration of Sally’s Life is being planned by the family for a place, date, and time yet to be determined, that will be announced.
In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials should be directed to the family for the benefit of Sally’s son Jose.
The Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, 128 S. Hoffman St., in Hixton, WI is serving the family. (715) 963-2311.
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