Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s daughter Sydney Martenis dies after year-long battle with cancer

The daughter of Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden, Sydney Martenis, has passed away after years of battling an aggressive form of cancer.

The Republican representative, 53, shared the tragic news of the death of the mother of three on Tuesday morning. She was remembered as an “exemplary” woman and a “very caring person.”

Van Orden said in a statement: “It is with the deepest sense of sadness and joy that Sara Jane and I announce the passing of our eldest daughter, Sydney Marie Martenis, after a year of battling a very aggressive cancer.

She died peacefully, surrounded by her family.

“We are heartbroken that we can no longer share her smile and laugh in person, but are so thankful that she is resting with our Lord and that we were able to spend these years with her and her family.

The Republican representative, 53, shared the tragic news of the death of the mother of three on Tuesday morning. She was remembered as an ‘exemplary’ woman and a ‘very caring person’

“Thank you for all the tender mercies you have extended to our family.”

Her husband, Chris, wrote on social media: ‘Sydney Martenis passed away on Saturday, August 19 after a year-long battle with cancer.

“She was the hardest working, most thoughtful and deeply caring person I know.

“She was a wonderful mother – she always surprised me with interesting and challenging experiences for our children.

“She was a better partner and wife than I deserve—she made me a better person through her example of how to be a good friend, how to take care of children, and how to participate in a loving marriage.

‘She was exemplary; she held to a standard that few, if any, could meet.

“The world is less rosy without her here.”

Images shared online showed Sydney battling cancer surrounded by her three young children.

Last week, the Republican had provided an update on his daughter’s condition, saying he would not be able to appear in person for a Farm Bill listening session due to her ongoing struggle.

He said: ‘Sydney was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer some time ago, but lately the situation has worsened. We as a family have handled this as privately as possible.

“It has been a very difficult and painful road for us. No one should see their child like this.’

Van Orden — who was in the Navy SEAL before entering politics — ran into trouble earlier this summer when the Republican member reportedly drank in his office and then berated teenage interns in the Capitol.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended the Wisconsin man, telling reporters “that’s not Derrick Van Orden’s norm,” adding that he thought the incident was a “misunderstanding.”

McCarthy said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke to him about the incident in which Representative Derrick Van Orden yelled at a group of Senate Pageants — high school students who assist Senate operations.

Sydney Martenis pictured with her children as she battles cancer

She was remembered as “a wonderful mother – she always surprised me with interesting and challenging experiences for our children,” said her husband.

Van Orden – who was in the Navy SEAL before going into politics – got in trouble earlier this summer when the Republican member reportedly drank in his office and then cursed at teenage interns at the Capitol

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Van Orden reportedly stumbled upon a group of Senate pages lying on the floor of the Capitol rotunda to take a photo of the chamber’s ornate dome ceiling.

According to a transcript obtained by The Hill that wrote a page shortly after the incident, Van Orden called the 16- and 17-year-olds “jacka**es” and “pieces of shit.”

“Wake the fuck up you little bastards. … What the hell are you all doing? Get the hell out of here. You’re polluting space you (pieces of s***),’ Van Orden said, according to the report on the page.

“Who the hell are you?” asked Van Orden, to which one person replied that they were Senate pages. “I don’t care who you are, go away.”

“You morons, get out,” he added.

The incident happened just after midnight.

Van Orden did not dispute the bill — nor did he apologize for it.

In June, he also ran a tirade and attacked the rebels of the Freedom Caucus, telling them that his daughter is “dying of cancer” and yet he comes to work “every day,” even as they block House business. .

Van Orden, 53, and his wife Sarah Jane have four children and eight grandchildren.