Joseph Martin "Marty" Mlynarik of West Lafayette, IN has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved him.
Here is what we wish the world to know of Joseph.
To raise a child is to give the world a future. Joseph did this with care.
J. Martin "Marty" Mlynarik, 86, of West Lafayette, passed away Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at University Place in West Lafayette. He was born November 10, 1939, in the Village of Oak Park, IL to the late Joseph and Marie (Novotny) Mlynarik. He was a graduate of Lockport Township High School and continued his education at Purdue University earning his Bachelor of Science Degree and then his Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1958, Marty was set-up on a blind date at the Purdue Memorial Union bowling alley, where he must have bowled a strike because on June 20, 1959, he married the girl from the blind date, Eleanor Jane Glanville, and 67 years later, they are still the love of each other's lives.
Marty worked as an Assistant Electronics Consultant in the Mechanical Engineering Electronics lab until his first retirement. Not wanting to be officially retired, Marty accepted a position as a Safety and Technical Consultant for Purdue until his 2nd and official retirement in 2020.
He was a charter member of the Wabash Township Fire Department where he held the rank of Lieutenant and was one of the few charter members still alive. He loved working the Fire Department Chicken BBQ fundraiser at Fort Ouiatenon, where he was considered a chicken grill master.
As a Ham Radio operator, Marty was a member of the Tippecanoe Amateur Radio Association, Western Indiana Radio Emergency Services, and the Tippecanoe County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
Marty enjoyed traveling with Ellie, the couple traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, Fiji, the Mediterranean, Panama Canal, and throughout the United States just to name a few. Perhaps their most enjoyable trips were attending Purdue basketball, volleyball and football games at various locations throughout the Caribbean and the United States.
Along with his love for Purdue athletics, he was also a fan of the Chicago Bears and Cubs, Boiler Gold Beer, and rag-top convertibles. He owned a Sprite, MG Midget and a Limited-Edition Miata. He was known for driving his red Miata convertible to work in the middle of winter with the top down.
Marty played alto and tenor saxophone in the Jimmy Stephenson Orchestra in the mid-1950's, a stint with Lenny's Polka Band in 1959 and Freddy Mitchell Orchestra from 1957 to 1966.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he cherished time spent with his family and loved to cook for his loved ones. In his earlier years of cooking, he would grill every weekend, Friday nights might be hot dogs or Polish sausage, Saturday was ALWAYS hamburgers, and on Sunday it would be steak, chicken, pork chops, or roast. Later in life, he would cook or grill every day and really enjoyed making recipes from his Czech heritage.
Along with his wife, Eleanor "Ellie" Mlynarik, he is survived by 3 children, Debbie (Dan Perkins) Wiegand of Custer Park, IL, David (Nancy) Mlynarik of Noblesville, and Liz (James) Malkemus of Union, KY; son-in-law, Tony (Eyvonnia) Dildine; 10 grandchildren, Kecia (Kyle), Colton (April), Trevor, Brittany (Jess), Shawn (Darcy), Kyle, Drew, John, Taylor, and Bailey; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marie Mlynarik; 2 children, Karen Dildine and Infant, Robert Mlynarik; and a sister, Bonnie Kimsey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Marty's name may be given to the Honor Flight of Greater Lafayette, PO Box 4782, Lafayette, IN 47903 or online at www.honorflightlafayette.com or to the Wabash Township Fire Department, or in honor of Ellie's fight with Alzheimer's to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 or at www.alz.org
Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Friday, May 15, 2026, with the "Last Alarm" service beginning at 6:30 pm at Soller-Baker, West Lafayette Chapel,1184 Sagamore Parkway West, West Lafayette, IN 47906.
A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday, at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
Share memories and leave condolences at www.soller-baker.com
