HERKIMER - Martin "Marty" Skandera, 89, of Folts Street, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon, May 25, 2002, in his home. He was born on Nov. 12, 1912, in Mahanoy City, Pa., son of the late Paul and Anna Cernak Skandera. Marty, at a young age, and his family came to Herkimer County and settled in Van Hornesville, where they owned and operated a dairy farm. He was educated in Van Hornesville School. When World War II broke, he answered the call of his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served in the Air Offense of Europe, Sicily, Naples, Foggia, Rome and Arno. He received the Good Conduct Medal European, African and Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with four Bronze stars. He was honorably discharged in 1945. After the war he returned to the area and went to work for Nehr's Chevrolet in Ilion. He was married to the former Victoria Unczer; she preceded him in death on Feb. 26, 1955. Mr. Skandera had owned and operated Marty's Texaco Service Station in Herkimer, then going to work for Castle Ford in Herkimer. He later became stock clerk in shipping and recovery for the Library Bureau. For 12 years he worked for the Mountain View Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Little Falls, retiring in 1977. He was a member of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer. He was a charter member of the Little Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars, a life member of the Ilion-Frankfort VFW Post 502, a life member of the Disabled Veterans and Amvets of Ilion. In his leisure time Marty was a stamp collector. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his many friends and family, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed breakfast with his grandchildren, going everywhere from Jordanville to Cedarville to Middleville and wherever breakfast was served. Surviving him are his son, Martin P. "Skip" Skandera and his wife Claudia Skandera; one brother, Thomas and his wife Marge Skandera, all of Herkimer; five grandchildren, Rebecca Skandera of Beckett, Mass., Amanda Skandera of Chadwicks, Martin P. "Bubby" Skandera II of Ilion, William Jaquish of Herkimer and Susan Jaquish of Ilion; two nieces, Mildred Engert and Betty Lou Emrich, both of Herkimer; a nephew, John D. Skandera of the town of Stark; and dear friends, Janet Bellstedt and Steven Hamill. Besides his parents and wife, Victoria, he was predeceased by three brothers, Paul, John and Samuel Skandera. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer. The Rev. Dale Dickerson, pastor, will officiate. A committal service with military honors will take place on Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. in Mountain View Memorial Gardens, town of Little Falls. The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer, Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Members of Ilion-Frankfort VFW Post 502 are asked to meet at the funeral home on Tuesday evening at 7 for ritualistic services