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Jacobsville: John Martin, Sr., 86, longtime resident of Jacobsville, passed away at the Omega House in Houghton, on April 17, 2019.
John was born, August 5th 1932, in Detroit Michigan, a son of Samuel and Mildred (Patterson) Martin. He attended St. James School in Ferndale, MI.
He served in the Army as an E1/PV1. He served and fought in Korea. He was a POW and survived the Pusan Tunnel Death March, and received the Purple Heart, amongst other awards.
He worked as commercial, residential, industrial painter.
He was married to Joyce on September 12, 1955, they were married for 50 years. She passed away on October 7th, 2005. They were both longtime members of AA.
Dad was an artistic painter, gold miner, and published author, “One Blade of Grass” a book about his experience as a POW. John and Joyce made a homestead in Bootjack, building a cabin, logging and making maple syrup. They spent time in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, doing volunteer work, including working in an orphanage. John was an insatiable reader of history, lover of classical music, and a great dog dad of Maddie, the English retriever. He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, wife, a sister-Betty Farrell, brother-in-law-Daniel Hardesty, and infant son-Matthew.
He is survived by: children-Leslie O’Donnell of Lake Linden, John Martin, Jr (Angela Lastorino) of Jupiter, Florida, Mary Geshel of Houghton, Michigan, Elizabeth Van Dam (Thomas Van Dam) of Las Vegas Nevada, and Michael Martin; grandchildren- Kimberly Saucedo, Brian Geshel Jr, Christopher John Martin Geshel, Dillon Geshel, Alexi Geshel, Rodney Allec, Chelsea Dupret, Katherine Dupret, Joseph Dupret, Jillian Martin, Tiffany Danielle Martin, Christopher Gregory, Eric Gregory; 15 beloved great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, and a sister- Patricia Hardesty.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date for the summer of 2019. The Pearce Funeral Home in Lake Linden is assisting with arrangements.
Online condolences may be left at pearcefuneralhome.com
