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

Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s daughter Sydney Martenis has died after year-long battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

The Republican representative, 53, shared the tragic news of the mom-of-three’s passing on Tuesday morning. She was remembered as an ‘exemplary’ woman and a ‘deeply caring person.’   

Van Orden said in a statement: ‘It is with the most profound sense of grief and joy that Sara Jane and I announce the passing of our oldest daughter, Sydney Marie Martenis after a year of battling a very aggressive form of cancer.

‘She died peacefully surrounded by her family.

‘We are heartbroken that we cannot share her smile and laugh in person any longer 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.

Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s daughter Sydney Martenis (pictured) has died after year-long battle with an aggressive form of cancer

The Republican representative , 53, shared the tragic news of the mom-of-three’s passing on Tuesday morning. She was remembered as an ‘exemplary’ woman and a ‘deeply caring person’

‘Thank you for all of the tender mercies you have shown to our family.’  

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

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

‘She was a wonderful mother – she was always surprising me with interesting and challenging experiences for our kids. 

‘She was a better partner and wife than I deserve – she made me a better person through her example in how to be a good friend, how to care for kids, and how to take part in a loving marriage. 

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

‘The world is less bright without her here.’

Images shared online showed Sydney during her cancer battle, surrounded by her three young children. 

Last week, the Republican had given an update on his daughter’s condition, saying that he would not be able to appear in person for a Farm Bill Listening Session because of her ongoing battle. 

He said: ‘Sydney was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer some time ago and has recently taken a turn for the worse. We have been dealing with this as privately as possible as a family.

‘It’s been a very difficult and painful road for us. No one should have to see their child like this.’  

Van Orden – who was a Navy SEAL before joining politics – found himself in hot water earlier this summer when the Republican member allegedly drank in his office then cursed at teenage interns at the Capitol.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended the Wisconsinite – telling reporters ‘that’s not the norm of Derrick Van Orden’ and adding he thought the incident was a ‘misunderstanding.’

McCarthy said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had spoken with him about the incident where Rep. Derrick Van Orden yelled at a group of Senate pages – high school interns who assist Senate operations.

Sydney Martenis pictured with her children during her cancer battle

She was remembered as ‘a wonderful mother – she was always surprising me with interesting and challenging experiences for our kids,’ according to her husband

Van Orden – who was a Navy SEAL before joining politics – found himself in hot water earlier this summer when the Republican member allegedly drank in his office then cursed at teenage interns at the Capitol

In the early hours of Thursday morning Van Orden reportedly came across a group of Senate pages lying on the floor of the Capitol rotunda to get a picture of the room’s ornate dome ceiling. 

According to a transcript obtained by The Hill that a page had written down moments after the incident, Van Orden called the 16- and 17-year-olds ‘jacka**es’ and ‘pieces of s**t.’

‘Wake the f‑‑‑ up you little s‑‑‑‑. … What the f‑‑‑ are you all doing? Get the f‑‑‑ out of here. You are defiling the space you [pieces of s‑‑‑],’ Van Orden said, according to the account from the page.

‘Who the f‑‑‑ are you?’ Van Orden asked, to which one person responded they were Senate pages. ‘I don’t give a f‑‑‑ who you are, get out.’

‘You jackasses, get out,’ he added.

The incident occurred just after midnight.

Van Orden did not dispute the account – or apologize for it.

In June, he also gave a sweary tirade and tore into the Freedom Caucus rebels, telling them his daughter is ‘dying of cancer’ and yet he shows up to work ‘every f***ing day’ even as they hold up House business.

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

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