Lt. Martin Leonard D'Ooge was born Saturday, January 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts .
he died Wednesday, April 16, 2014. his recorded age was 90.
he was a veteran of the Army and served in World War II.
D'Ooge Lt. Martin Leonard D'Ooge. As a 21 year-old unit commander during WWII, serving in the 10th Mountain Division in Northern Italy, Lt. Martin Leonard D'Ooge once led an assault that came under German mortar attack. As he later wrote, "It threw a body up over me, where it landed on my leg. I never knew whether it was someone already dead or not. Thank God it was not one of my men!" Later, he was awarded the Bronze Star for walking down a tree line to draw sniper fire, as well as other military honors. Such devotion to duty and concern for the welfare of others was characteristic of Mr. D'Ooge's long life, which ended at Kobacker House Hospice at age 90 on April 16, 2014. The cause of death was cancer. Born in Milton, MA on January 12, 1924, "Len" D'Ooge grew up in Chatham, NJ. After the war, he attended Michigan State University on the GI Bill, graduating in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1948. That same year, he married Macsene Street of Cassopolis, Michigan. Together they had four children, Craig, Cheryl, Susan and Steven. Macsene died in 1967. Later, he married Merilyn Shanewise, who survives him, adding her three young children, Craig, Sherrie, and Christine, to his four, which made for a very lively household. Last November, Len and Merilyn celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. For most of his career, Mr. D'Ooge worked in marketing for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Upon retirement, he immediately started volunteering at the Columbus Zoo, where he was a docent for 20 years. His devotion to animals was exceeded only by his love of his wife, his family, his church, and his many friends throughout the United States. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. at Grace Polaris Church, 8225 Worthington-Galena Road, Westerville, OH. Funeral arrangements are being handled by RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOMES, with interment in Flint Union Cemetery, both in Worthington. Mr. D'Ooge asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Adopt an Animal Fund, Columbus Zoo, 9990 Riverside Drive, Powell, OH 43065, or to Grace Polaris Church.