I somehow missed an update on our Facebook page a few weeks ago about Marty’s sauna rebuild. Phillip Otterness was an early member of our group. His uncle, Marty, lives at his family farmstead near Maple, WI, where he’s a caregiver for his father. Marty grew up using the sauna at the farmstead. It had been his favorite backyard sanctuary and retreat until it burned down on December 18th.

Phillip reached out to our group via the FB group and we responded, raising $1000 to help rebuild the sauna in just 3 days! 

Phillip recently posted this update on our Facebook page:

“Last night I was finally able to get to Maple, WI and enjoy my uncle Marty Laakso‘s rebuilt sauna. The original sauna was built by my great-grandpa and caught fire right before Christmas last winter. Marty has been working on rebuilding ever since – thanks to a lot of help from 612 donations! – and he has done an amazing job incorporating as much of the old building as he could into the new structure (surviving floor, some walls, some the old red exterior shingling, stove, hinges, etc). He even repainted the old metal water buckets. 🙂 He had tried posting some photos to the group earlier but we learned people who werent friends couldn’t see them – so I’m reposting them here.” 

Phillip presenting our donation to Marty after his family sauna burned down.

Phillip presenting our donation to Marty after his family sauna burned down.

Marty rebuilt the hot room shown here with donations from 612 Sauna Society.

Marty rebuilt the hot room shown here with donations from 612 Sauna Society.

He added in a comment:

One more share – Marty’s mom, whose step dad built the original structure. She is on hospice care after having a stroke last week. I’ll always associate the sauna with my memories of grandma, and I’m sure it means a lot to Marty that she was able to see it rebuilt before her decline this week.

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Since the update above from Philip, his grandmother has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, Marty and the rest of his family. I’m so glad we could help Marty get the sauna re-built in a timely manner. A big thank you everyone who pitched in and donated.