John Martinez

John Martinez was a man who could build any structure with his own hands and at the same time could make a person smile with a good joke or a story. He was an honest and caring family man who always put the needs of his family above all else. John found great happiness in life thanks to his many friends, coworkers, and loved ones.

John was born in the midst of the 1940's and a very important decade in our nation?s past. The epic battles of World War II were fresh in the memories of millions around the globe as people tried to rebuild their lives and move on. It was the era of big bands and the birth of television, back before anyone had ever heard of rock and roll. John entered this changing world on May 30th, 1947 in Austin, Texas to Brigido and Manuela Martinez.

John had a normal childhood for the times, growing up alongside his siblings. His sister was a good friend of another neighborhood girl named Dora. John had crush on Dora for years and he asked her out many, many times. Finally one day, Dora agreed to a date and the two began a long romance. They dated for nearly three years before John proposed. They wed on May 2nd, 1976 at the Austin City courthouse. John had two friends stand up for him and Dora had one. The newlyweds didn't ride off into the sunset for a grandiose honeymoon though; they each had jobs and couldn't afford to get away. In 1977, John and Dora took an opportunity to move north and settled in the community of Holland, Michigan.

John was a self-employed carpenter for many years. He could create wonderful things with just his hands and the right tools, and building made him very happy. Upon arriving in Holland, John took a job helping to build the Evergreen Commons community. Another firm working on the site quickly noticed the degree of skill and talent John possessed. That company, Lamar Construction, hired him on the spot and he worked for the firm for many years. His coworkers loved him for his easy-going and fun personality, especially his jokes and stories (though they were sometimes exaggerated). John soon had an all-new audience for his stories.

He was very proud of all of his children and would stop at nothing to see that their every need was met in full. The whole family attended church every Sunday at St. Frances de Sales. John found great happiness in many different activities and hobbies. He loved to go fishing with a group of friends; they would fly deep into Canada and spend the entire week fishing. Upon returning home, John would have story fodder to last up until his next big trip. He liked to take his wife and kids down home to Austin, where they would visit family and friends. One place that John always wanted to visit was the infamous Las Vegas Strip. He finally got his chance to frolic amidst the neon glow in 1999, and had the time of his life. He hopped from casino to casino terrorizing the slot machines in each locality. John took Dora to the Hispanic festival in Milwaukee one time. He loved Spanish music and food, but he had a soft spot for Russ' Twinburger and Onion Rings.

John was very handy with his tools around the house and often used his talents to help friends and neighbors. One of his favorite possessions was his beloved Burgundy Silverado truck, though it replaced the legendary "White Lightning".

Another important part of John?s life was his many friends. He spent lots of time with his buddies, getting outdoors and just plain having fun. But for John, his biggest priority was always his family. He loved spending time with his children and his ultra-special grandkids. Each of his loved ones brought endless happiness to his life.

John passed away on Friday, September 12th, 2003 at Hospice House of Holland.

Surviving are his wife, Dora of 31 years; children, John Martinez Jr. of Austin, TX, Patricia and Dan McClenden of Pflugerville, TX, Tracy Moreno of Holland, Christopher John Martinez of Holland, Amanda Martinez of Holland, and Andrea and Adam Hernandez of Zeeland; 11 Grandchildren; Brother, Joe and Gloria Martinez; Sisters, Margaret Nunez, Toni and Joe Lopez all of Austin, TX; Brother-in-Law-Joe Esparza of Milwaukee, WI; Sister-in-Law-Linda and Richie Mullins of Georgetown, TX; several nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Services will be 10 AM Wednesday at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with the Rev. Charles Brown officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Visiting will be 6-8 PM Tuesday at the church with wake prayers at 7:30 PM. Arrangements are by the Downtown Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes.

To read John?s complete life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the Hospice House, please visit his personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

John was an honest and caring man that brought love and laughter to everyone around him. He will be greatly missed.