John R. Martin, Sr.

John R Martin, Sr., of Stanley, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, Wis. He was born in New Holland, Pennsylvania on March 30, 1938 to the late Weaver W. and Anna N. (Reiff) Martin. John was a Carriage and Harness maker.

John married Nora Z. Martin on Dec. 3, 1959, and they had 13 children. Nora died in 2009. John then married Mary Ella Zimmerman on Sept. 22, 2011. She survives.

He is further survived by his 11 children, Anna Mary (Daniel) Hoover of Dundee, NY, Alma (Laurence) Reiff of Leola, Pa., Nora (Harlan) Zimmerman of Alta Vista, Lucy (Ivan) Zimmerman of Ephrata, Pa., Arlene (Maynard) Zimmerman of Millmont, Pa., Emma (John) Martin of Charles City, Louella (Harold) Zimmerman of Rushville, NY, John R. (Anna) Martin, Jr. of Ionia, Vera Mae (Alvin) Reiff of Leola, Pa., Leon (Christine) Martin of Ionia, and Elvin M. Martin of Ionia, one son-in-law, John (Anna Mae) Oberholtzer of Charles City; 11 stepchildren; 91 grandchildren; and 66 great-grandchildren.

John is preceded in death by his parents and two daughters: Elva Martin and Wilma Oberholtzer.

There will be a visitation at the Martin Home in Stanley on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday at the John Martin, Jr., home in Ionia, Iowa from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. at the Deerfield Mennonite Church, Cheyenne Ave., Ionia, with Bishop Carl Hoover officiating. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery.