LABRIE, MARTIN (Marty) R . Age 56 of East Bethel passed away suddenly on September 22, 2017 from complications of a brain aneurysm.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 30 ^th at the St. Stephens Catholic Church in Anoka. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral, beginning at 10AM at the church.  At noon, we will gather for a luncheon at the American Legion in Anoka,  to share stories and celebrate Marty's remarkable life.

Burial will be at the State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley, on Monday, October 2 at 2PM.

Martin Robert LaBrie was born on July 11, 1961 in NE Minneapolis to Val LaBrie and Irvin Lynn. He attended school in NE Minneapolis and Cannon Falls, and graduated from Edison High School in 1980.  In his senior year, Marty enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard and spent most of his career with the 257 ^th Military Police Company. His unit was ordered to active duty to Fort McCoy in 1980 in support of the Cuban refugee crisis, in which he received a humanitarian medal.

Later that year, Marty met his future wife Launette at Camp Ripley, when their military paths crossed. They were married in 1983 and made their home in Coon Rapids and Ham Lake. They were blessed with 2 children, Anthony and Maria.  They were married for 21 years, but divorced in 2004.  Healing takes time, and during the last decade of his life, they made peace. They came together to celebrate life events with their children, extended & blended families, and mutual friends.  It was a blessing for them both. Marty married a lifetime friend, Jean Martin in 2006, and they lived in East Bethel. Sadly it ended in divorce.

Marty worked full time in the security industry, took college courses, and attended the Minnesota Military Academy. In 1984, he received his Commission as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant serving as a Platoon Leader with the 47 ^th MP Company and 257 ^th MP. He also served in a NATO Exercise in Korea and a rotational Commander in Panama. In 1990, Marty was promoted to Captain and was appointed as Commander of the 257 ^th MP Company.  The very next month on the eve of Thanksgiving, Marty received that call that his unit was being activated in Support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.  It was a solemn & heavy burden, but he considered it a great honor & privilege to serve as Commander of this unit that had such a distinguished lineage and history. His greatest concern was that of his soldiers, and he vowed to do everything within his power to return every one of his soldiers safely back to their families.  He wascontent that he achieved this.  His final assignment was serving as an MP advisor to the G-3 in the HQ 34 ^th Infantry Division, before he was medically discharged in 1995.

In his civilian life, Marty pursued the path of a correctional officer, He was appointed as a CO by the MN Department of Corrections in 1992. He served in a variety of positions at the Lino Lakes Facility and he formed deep & lasting friendships with his co-workers, which continue to this day, long after his retirement in 2011.  It was 2008 when Marty and his co-worker & fellow veteran, Mark Rozak put together a motorcycle "fun run" for co-workers at Lino Lakes.  This caring group of riders suggested that the ride should be for a cause. Marty told of a story when he was deployed that his family had received a $100 grocery card, which was so badly needed, and felt like a gift from heaven.  And so it was decided that the money they collected would be used to purchase grocery gift cards, and the bike run would be a perfect opportunity to personally deliver these cards to families with deployed soldiers. Marty & Mark made the first donation of $100 each. That was the inspiration for others to donate.  It didn't take long to raise $900. A sunny day in June of 2008 turned out to be the perfect day for a ride.  Taking the back roads from Lino Lakes to St. Paul Harley for their open house and bike show. From there they stopped at the homes of deployed soldiers homes and presented the spouses with the grocery cards. The gratitude from these families was overwhelming and the emanated energy of these biker friends propelled them to do more.  From this experience, a dream was born and '2 Wheels 4 Heroes' was officially formed as a nonprofit 501c3, so to protect the integrity and vision of their mission.  Through the years, their annual events expanded to golf tournaments, chili feeds, auctions and corporate sponsorship.  The heart, loyalty and energy of 2 Wheels 4 Heroes, grew into something special and amazing, and their focus became more refined. When the Minneapolis VA Poly Trauma Center opened its doors in 2009, the 2 Wheels 4 Heros Board of Directors, committed to donate all of the raised proceeds to purchase very specialized equipment to improve the lives of veterans being served by the VA Poly Trauma Center.  Ironically, Marty became a patient and recipient of those services in 2015 when he suffered his first stroke, caused by a brain aneurysm.  He worked very hard to regain his speech, mobility and independence, and to ride motorcycle again.  Earlier this year, Marty suffered a setback when fluid was collecting on his brain.  He made the brave decision to have surgery to improve his quality of life, and so that he could walk his daughter Maria down the aisle at her wedding in November.  The surgery was a success, but it was short lived.  He suffered another stroke. Marty had conflicting emotions about wanting to live or die.  Dr. Adams, his Poly Trauma physician met with Marty the day before he died. Marty was told it was going to be harder this time. Marty told Dr. Adams that he wanted to live, and asked the doctor to help him do that.  The very next morning, Marty died. We are heartbroken.

Marty's life was full, but his greatest love, highest achievement, and absolute joy, came from being a dad to Anthony (Tony) and Maria.  Marty loved being a dad, above all else.  They were his world, his pride, his strength.  He was a "hands on daddy." Whatever they wanted to try or experience, he would make it happen.  He was the little league coach, hockey & volleyball dad, orchestra fan club, happy camper, a funny face maker, snowmobile adventurer, an everything fixer-upper, dog trainer, bruised knee kisser, background checker, boy chaser-awayer, tough talker, & heart protector. As Tony & Maria grew up, so did their love and respect of each other.  Tony moved in with his dad, after his first stroke to care for him, until he could live independently. This year, after Tony deployed to Cuba, Maria became his loving caregiver, eventually moving in with him, and caring for him 24/7, as his condition deteriorated.  Marty never felt deserving of such love and devotion from his children, and but was so grateful for and proud of them.

One of the highlights of Marty's summer was that his two sisters, Lori and Patty convinced Marty to take a road trip out west in Marty's RV. They wanted to honor the wishes of their deceased father, Irvin Lynn by spreading his ashes in the desert where he once lived. This trip turned into a crazy adventure, where Marty and his two sister bonded, laughed, argued, and loved.  It was a blessing to them all.

Everyone knows Marty as a smart, witty, humble, sarcastic, loyal and generous spirit. Family and friends were his everything.  It is where he drew his strength.  He would walk into a room and draw people to him because he was genuine and authentic, and wanted to befriend you. He was real.  He sought out to help people, who were stranded on the side of a road, to push their wheelchair to their next VA appointment, or use his mechanical skills to stop a toilet from overflowing, or fix your car.  He was the first one that everyone thought to call for help.  And he was richly rewarded on this earth by the deep friendships that developed.  Thank you for all of you.  You were important to Marty.  He loved you.  And it was an honest love.

Marty is survived by his children: Anthony (Tori) of Blaine, and Maria (Chris Swanson) of Coon Rapids, former spouses Launette Figliuzzi and Jean Martin; mother Val LaBrie, siblings Charles LaBrie (Lisa), Dona Cheever, Patty Jennings, Lori Lynn; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins; as well as old and new extended/blended family members and dear friends that Marty called family.

Let us share your memories of Marty, so that we may fully know him, and honor him. Please join us at the Anoka American Legion on Saturday, September 30 ^th , beginning at noon to celebrate his amazing life.

Arrangements are made through Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka MN 763-421-0220