Obituary of Donald M. Martin

Donald M. Martin, 85 of Coralville died Friday, September 17, 2010, at the Lantern Park Care and Rehab Center in Coralville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials donations can be made in Don’s memory for Parkinson’s Research. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Donald Merle Martin was born May 23, 1925, in Henry County, Iowa the son of Ezra M. and Cora L. (Boden) Martin. He graduated with the Class of 1942 from Mt. Pleasant High School. Following high school he worked at the Iowa Ordnance Plant in Middletown, IA, and for the Fanhauser Dairy in Mt. Pleasant. He was united in marriage to Vera Dayle Martin on April 10, 1947. He became associated with Mooreman Feed Company in sales, moving his young family to Des Moines County. In 1955 he and his family moved to North Liberty where Don was employed by Amana Refrigeration. He was also instrumental in the birth and operation of North Liberty Electric Company which operated for a number of years. Proctor & Gamble opened a facility in Iowa City in 1956; Don was one of their first employees. He remained with them for the next 29 years before retiring due to the progression of his Parkinson Disease, which was diagnosed in 1965 at the age of 40 years. He and his wife, Dayle moved to Coralville in 1984 and in 2005 Don took up residence and care at Lantern Park Nursing Care and Rehab Center. Don was a member of Coralville United Methodist Church. He was well known as a man who could fix anything and was often found tinkering. He and Dayle built their first house in North Liberty with Don doing much of the work. He enjoyed fishing and organized annual fishing vacations for his children and grandchildren. Most importantly Don was faithful Christian model for his family and friends. Don’s family includes his wife of over 63 years, Dayle; two children and their spouses, Danny and Deb Martin of Muscatine; and Gaye and Rick Janssen of Hampton, IA; five grandchildren, Sonya Garrett (Chad) of Rochester MN, Jeremy Martin of Glendale AZ, Ryan Martin of Iowa City, Todd Janssen of Seoul, S. Korea, and Stephanie Janssen Hofer (Jon) of Hampton; three great-grandchildren, Tristen, Zander, and Elliana Garrett; four sisters, Hazel Hudson (James) of Cedar Rapids; Elaine Ingwersen (Carl) of Mt. Pleasant; Joy Stone (Robert) of Mercersburg, PA; and Carma Blosser of Surprise, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Jane Marie Martin, an infant brother and sister, and a brother-in-law, Leon Blosser.