Martin "Marty" Allen Sojka

Martin "Marty" Allen Sojka

Cañon City, Colorado

Marty Sojka, age 64, died suddenly on December 13, in Cañon City, Colorado after a short illness. He was born June 30, 1959, in Washington, Iowa, to Franklin and Rita (Schultz) Sojka. He graduated from Washington High School in 1977, where he lettered in football, wrestling, and track. He then attended Central College, in Pella, Iowa, where he majored in chemistry and continued to play football. There he met Brenda DeKlotz and they married in 1983. He later went on to earn a Master’s degree in education at Olivet Nazarene.

His career as a chemistry teacher and football coach spanned 40 years. He began as a teacher and coach in Burlington, Iowa. He then went on to teach and coach in Rock Island, Illinois, eventually moving to Winnebago, Illinois. He ended his coaching career at Rockford College, where he coached the defensive line. Afterwards, he moved to Pueblo, Colorado, to finish his teaching career. During his retirement Marty enjoyed hunting, fishing, and long distance target shooting with his friend Mat Flanders.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda, children Nicole Sojka, Marcus (Kayla) Sojka, Jennifer (Kacy) Sojka-Messerschmidt, and Michael (Oana Enache) Sojka; grandchildren Zoey and Oliver Sojka, and Claire and Samuel Sojka-Messerschmidt; siblings Matthew (Kim) Sojka, Angela Sojka, Myron (Libing) Sojka and Renee (Jeff) Cunningham, sister-in-law Lori Sojka, and numerous nieces, nephews, and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents Franklin and Rita and brothers Michael and Marvin.

There will be a private memorial in Iowa this summer. Those who wish to remember Marty may make gifts to Pheasants Forever at pheasantsforever.org/donate.