Martin A Nanna

Martin "Marty" Alfred Nanna went home to rest for all eternity with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ early Thursday morning, November 8th, 2018, in Las Cruces, NM. He was 63 years old and left his earthly home due to medical complications. Martin was born on August 3rd, 1955 in Scotts Valley, CA a farming suburb just southeast of Santa Cruz, CA. He was the first child of five born to Patricia Ruby Strong Nanna and Herman Nanna Jr., both parents who have preceded him in death. He is survived by his brothers and sisters, Michael Nanna, Patrick Nanna, Drean Babcock and Katie King. He is also preceded in death my his eldest on Charles Nanna. He is also survived by his son and daughter Nicholas Nanna of Oroville, CA and Aria Nanna of Mesilla, NM and his partner Anita Martinez, also of Mesilla, NM. Martin graduated from Soquel High School in the Santa Cruz, CA area where he excelled in speech and debate club, science and biology studies and competitive swimming and water polo sports. He enjoyed building and working on cars and motorcycles and owned many throughout his lifetime. Martin loved the ocean and the beach, and he spent years surfing the waves of the Santa Cruz beaches, to his hearts delight. In his youth, Martin also enjoyed farming and agricultural activities, raising livestock and riding horses and playing Italian polkas on his accordion and tap dancing, often performing at county fairs. Martin was as well a graduate of Cabrillo Community College with degrees in Biology and Chemistry, University of Phoenix with a degree in Healthcare Management and an MBA graduate from Post University. Martin's professional careers spanned some 40 years. He was a truck driver who drove interstate routes, a sheriff's deputy, a wastewater treatment supervisor, a director of public works, a well water and lakes engineer, a non-profit foodbank and soup kitchen director, and his most personally esteemed career was his employment as a grocery store director. Martin excelled at mass organizational management and enjoyed overseeing large operations and managing and mentoring large numbers of employees. He was loved, respected and admired by his hundreds of co-workers and employees. In his later adulthood, Martin was very dedicated to his volunteer work with the Las Cruces High School Band and Choir organizations. He was a strong supporter of both programs and spent countless hours raising money and volunteering his time to assist with band and choir events, football game concessions and concerts. His tireless efforts aided in providing substantial music programming and essential music education for the Las Cruces High School band and choir students. Martin also enjoyed music of all genres, especially Italian operas, travel, fishing, watching sports especially NFL football, farming and gardening, raising goats and rabbits and his trusty German Shepard farm dog, Duchess Marie. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Carlos Apodaca of Peoria, AZ, Collette Apodaca of Avondale, AZ and Ryan Martinez, of Long Beach, CA and three step-grandchildren, Angelina Apodaca of Peoria, AZ and Anthony and Isabella Lopez of Avondale, AZ. Memorial services for Martin are scheduled for Saturday morning, November 17th, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Getz Funeral Home located at 1410 Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88001.