Martin F. Machovec, former Oblate of Mary Immaculate missionary priest, passed away on March 26, 2019 at South Haven Living Center in Wahoo, Nebraska following a brief illness.

Born in Kansas City, MO on May 17, 1936, he was the son of the late Dr. Frank T. and Anna (Hills) Machovec.  He attended Assumption Grade School where his mom recalled “Martin found his vocation” sitting on the rectory steps where he was sent for “mischief in school.”  It was there”, Martin wrote, “that he was given words of encouragement instead of blame by Monsignor Schumacher.”

Martin’s Oblate high school and college education was at Our Lady of the Ozarks Seminary, Carthage, Missouri, and at Pine Hills College and Our Lady of Snows Scholasticate, both in Pass Christian, MS.

He was ordained at St. Paul’s Church in Pass Christian, MS on September 10, 1961 by Bishop Joseph Brunini and celebrated his first Mass at Assumption Church, his home parish.

His ministry included teaching at Our Lady of Ozarks, Carthage, MO and Althoff High School, Belleville, IL; Assistant Pastor at Assumption Parish, Richfield, MN; Vocation Director at Our Lady of the Ozarks, Carthage, MO.; teacher and Vocation Director at St. Henry’s Seminary, Belleville, IL; Youth Retreats at King’s House of Retreats, Belleville, MO; Associate Pastor at St. John the Baptist Church, Green Bay WI; Vocation Director at the Oblate House of Studies, Omaha; pastoral team member of the Catholic Community, Sisseton, SD; Pastor at St. Benedict’s Parish, White Earth, MN; and Pastor at St. Casimir Parish, St. Paul, MN.

While Associate pastor in Green Bay, WI, Father Martin was instrumental in the establishment and growth of Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), a three-day weekend retreat for youth and young adults.  While Pastor in White Earth, MN, he enjoyed, cared for, and interacted with the native children of White Earth reservation.  He also worked toward the canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha.

Father Martin was known for being a fine homilist.  He was an avid post stamp collector and accumulator of books.  He had a love of reading and was adept at storytelling and writing.  He enjoyed challenging word games and crossword puzzles, gardening and cooking, and listening to Catholic Radio.  He especially enjoyed good conversations, photographing old barns along country roads and traveling by car and train.  An encyclopedic knowledge and love of baseball began while playing the sport during summer visits to his Machovec grandparents’ farm in Wahoo and Pop’s, Uncle Jack and Aunt Frances’ farm in Malmo.  He wrote that It was at these farms that he learned about “simplicity and respect for the earth and nature.”

Martin was predeceased by his parents: brothers-in-law, Clifton Colby and James Cooney; niece and nephews, Christopher Everett, Benjamin and Payton Watson, and Carl DeVellis.

He is survived by his sisters, Frances Ann Goode, Jamestown, RI, Mary Cooney, Weston, NE, Martha (Lewis) Everett, Mountain View, AR, and Ann Colby, Abington, MA as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and members of the Oblate Community.