Date Created: 01/19/2017
Last Updated: 01/20/2017

In loving memory of Michael Martin Sr.
9/29/1939 - 1/17/2017

Location: Jackson, New Jersey

Visits: 39,112

Michael Joseph Martin
Obituary
Michael Joseph Martin, age 77 of Jackson, New Jersey, died on January 17th, 2017. He was born on September 29, 1939 in Bay City, Michigan to the late Edmund J. and Bernice (Cole) Martin. He was a graduate of Bay City High School class of 1957. He also attended the Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Mike served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and served at the U. S. Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, Illinois. While there he met his future wife Barbara, a Navy Nurse. He was also attached to the Third Marine Air wing in El Toro, California. The couple married in 1963 and moved to Linden, New Jersey where they raised their children Deborah, Rachael, and Michael Jr. Michael Sr. and Barbara moved to Jackson in 2005.
Mike was employed by the former Exxon Research and Engineering Company in Linden where he held the positions of Senior Research Technician and Site Supervisor. He retired in 1995 after thirty years of service
Mike had been a member of the former Linden Volunteer Ambulance Corps, holding positions of Captain and President and was honored for thirty years of service to the City of Linden.
Mike was an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 34, Reformed Church, Linden, NJ. He was a merit badge counselor for several first aid and emergency-related merit badges and continued with that even after he finished serving with the Troop. He was a member of the Linden Public School # 1 PTA, and was a library volunteer and class trip chaperone. He was a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church and had served as a lector for many years.
Mike was avid walker, even after he used a rolling walker to get around, and would stop and talk to those he encountered on his walks.
Mike is survived by his three adult children; Deborah J. Morejon and her husband David , Rachael Rosky and her husband Michael, and Michael Martin Jr. and his wife Angela. He is also survived by his most proud legacy, his four grandchildren, Vanessa and Ava Rosky and Michael III and Daniel Martin. He is also survived by his three siblings, Karen Meeks, Anne Estep, and James Martin.
A chapel service will be held at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Military Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey on Friday, January 27th at 11:30 am.
In his memory, Mike’s family ask that you make a donation in his name to a military or Parkinson’s related charity of your choice, or to make a donation to your local volunteer ambulance squad.

 
 
 
 

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Current Memories

From: Rachael Rosky Thursday, January 26, 2017
My memories of Dad include him sitting in our basement rec room in his big black recliner chair. He would watch his favorite shows – like Hee Haw, Barney Miller, and MASH. He usually had a big frosty mug of soda next to him. Or he’d enjoy a bowl of rainbow sherbet. Dad was into CB radios when that was the craze. When we weren’t listing to Channel 19, he would play country music and CB themed songs on his 8-track player. On our road trips Dad didn’t like to waste time at the rest stops so we would travel as long as possible until our begging got the best of him. Dad was incredibly organized. He had one of those original label makers and labelled everything in sight. His workbench and garage were equipped with everything you could ever need. We always had a least 4 sizes and types of tape – duct tape, masking tape, electrical tape – you name it. He taught me the difference between a phillips-head and regular screwdriver. Dad was always all about safety. Our family motto during the 70’s came from the orange and green fluorescent stickers Dad got from Exxon – “Life is Fragile, Handle with Care.” How very true that has become to me. Dad would teach us to be aware of our surroundings and always lock the doors. He taught me how to change a tire, and always made sure I had a complete first aid kit, jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, etc. He taught me to never hang things from the rear view mirror, or to have loose articles around in the car in case of an accident. He always made sure I had at least a quarter tank of gas. And his birthday gift to me once was “The Club”, wrapped in newspaper. Much of his advice is still with me. After I got my driver’s license, I backed the family Buick out of the garage and smashed the side view mirror to pieces. I was convinced I would be a terrible driver, and vowed never to drive again. Dad did not let me give in - in no time he convinced me to get back in the car and get on the road (and didn’t make me pay for the mirror!) Dad loved to walk. When I was a little older and I still lived at home, we would drive over to Rahway Park almost every evening and do a few laps around. Dad could keep walking forever! He enjoyed having brunch at the Windsor Diner in Clark and dinner at the Firehouse in Rahway. Dad’s advice was usually simple and to the point, never mushy or sentimental, but always given from the heart of a father. His main concern was always that we were safe, had good jobs and succeeded in the world. In the last few years during my visits, I would pull up Dad’s rolling walker and sit next to his “good” ear, and tell him everything was going okay for me and my family. I’d ask for his thoughts on home repairs, pool care and of course anything related to my car. He always gave sound advice. When we were younger, and Dad wanted to thank us for doing something (like retrieving items from the basement or changing the channel on the big console television), he would ask, “What’s 5 Q and 5 Q?” I would reply, “10 Q”. It took me years to figure out what he meant! Well, I now say, “10 Q to you Dad, for everything.”

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