- Date Of Birth: March 2, 1922
- Date Of Death: February 19, 2006
- State: Michigan
Robert F. Martin, 83, died Sunday, February 19, 2006 at his family’s Centennial Farm in Three Oaks, Michigan, surrounded by his loving family.Robert was born on March 2, 1922, to Arthur C. and Bessie (Sheeley) Martin at their farm in Three Oaks. Robert lived his entire life in Three Oaks and attended Spring Creek School as a child. On April 4, 1945, he married Betty Hellenga in a double wedding ceremony with Betty’s sister and her husband, at the First Reformed Church in Three Oaks. Robert and his brother William, owned Martin Brothers Marl and Gravel Pit in Three Oaks.
Robert was employed at the Three Oaks Hardware for many years and served as the Three Oaks Township Treasurer for 35 years. He was a country boy at heart, and was happy raising his family on the same farm he was born on. He enjoyed hunting and the beauty of the family farm. Robert sang in the church choir and in a men’s quartet, he also played the mandolin and the harmonica. He took pleasure in woodworking, creating toys for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Robert was a member of the First Reformed Church of Three Oaks and shared his faith with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; 10 children, Linda (George) Mangold, Three Oaks; Donna (James) Wood, New Port Ritchie, FL; Janis (Bruce) Zylstra, North Fort Myers, FL; Nancy (Dennis) Love, North Fort Myers, FL; Karen Martin, Houston, TX; Robert (Kathy) Martin, Three Oaks; Sandy (Alan) Price, Sawyer, MI; Gary (Gayle) Martin, Three Oaks; Gayle (James) Hagenbarth, St. Joseph, MI and Fredrick Martin of Chicago, IL; 15 grandchildren, Michelle, Angie, Scott, Vanessa, Kristin, Kelly, Pamela, Colleen, Jason, Cara, Kim, Maggie, Danielle, Tom and Joshua; 20 great-grandchildren; brother, William (Mary Ann) Martin of Three Oaks; his sister, Esther (Jerry) Thomas of Three Oaks and his sisters-in-law, Esther L. Martin and June (Verlyn Domink and brother-in-law, Elson (Dorothy) Hellenga.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, a great-granddaughter, brothers, Wade and David, and sisters, Ruth Warren and Juanita Dickey.
