Eli James Marten, 33, of Milwaukee, WI, passed away at Froedtert Hospital, peaceful and surrounded by family, on June 8, 2026.

Eli was born in Milwaukee, and his passions and profession (and his family’s love of travel) brought him to five continents and dozens of national parks. But he always thought of Milwaukee, where his parents lived and where he cultivated his professional identity – as his permanent home.

For most of his adolescence and early adulthood, Eli spent his summers at Camp Manito-Wish in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin – first as a camper, then a counselor, then a tripping assistant, co-leading multi-day canoeing trips for young campers. For all the amazing spots he visited, Manito-wish truly was his happy place.

He studied Spanish and Anthropology at Marquette University. A semester abroad in Santiago, Chile was a highlight of his time there. Post-undergrad, Eli served two terms with AmeriCorps as a college coach, which sparked an enduring passion for educational justice. For the rest of his life, he worked as an academic coach and success advisor at several nonprofits and higher education institutions, earning a Master of Education in Student Affairs in 2019. There is no way to quantify the impact he had on the hundreds of students he served.

One of Eli’s most endearing qualities was his unabashed dedication to his hobbies and interests. He loved dinosaurs (he simply never got over his childhood fascination with them), video games (especially with his nephew), mountains, Tolkien, his cat Hughie, indie folk music, puns, clever T-shirts, adult lego sets, pretzel M&Ms. He was infinitely greater than the sum of these, of course, but the way he lived his life is a lesson in finding joy in the everyday. 

Eli is survived by his parents, Jim and Linda; his sister Lauren and nephew Wylie; aunts and uncles Barb and Dave and Jane and Randy; cousin Brandon; partner Leah; and countless other family members, friends, colleagues, and students who were lucky enough to know him. 

For those who would like to make a donation in Eli’s honor, please consider a contribution to Camp Manito-wish