E. Martin

E. Wayne Martin, age 69 years of Niles, Michigan died at 6:18 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2015 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan shortly after after becoming ill while bicycling in Glen Arbor, Michigan. His family chose to use the Gift of Life to enhance the health of others through tissue donation.

He was born on July 13, 1946 in Niles to Earl V. and Katherine E. (Loose) Martin. He was graduated from Niles High School, attended Michigan Technological University in Houghton, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, and Education at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. He continued his studies, and was just hours away from completing a Masters of Business Administration. He was employed for nineteen years at Fleetwood Enterprises as a purchasing agent, and then for twenty-four years as the Owner and Operator of Martin’s Yard & Garden.

Wayne greatly enjoyed “up-north”, usually camping at the D. H. Day campground at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and was an active participant at the Fishtown Preservation Society in Leland, Michigan. He enjoyed bicycling, flower gardening which included a wide variety of hostas, his home workshop, and he had recently become quite proficient and competitive in duplicate bridge. He had great carpentry and artistic talents, which were on display every Christmas season as his lawn was decorated with full size, lighted characters – both static and moving – which drew many spectators to the otherwise quiet neighborhood.

On October 30, 1967 at the Wesley United Methodist Church Wayne married the former Martha “Marty” Wigent, with whom he would have celebrated this month the forty-eighth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Marty Martin and their children, Geoff Martin of Port Richey, Florida and Priscilla Martin of Lowell, Michigan; grandchildren Alina and Brayden; Wayne’s brothers, Wally (& Joella) Martin of Berrien Springs, Michigan and Mike Martin of Niles; and a nephew, Jon and niece Stephanie.

The funeral service for Wayne Martin will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday at the funeral home from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Wayne may be made to the Fishtown Preservation Society, P.O.Box 721, Leland, Michigan 49654.

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