Martin, Donald M.

CORALVILLE - Donald M. Martin, 85, of Coralville, died Friday, Sept. 17, 2010, at Lantern Park Care and Rehab Center in Coralville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, 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. today at the funeral home.

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 Mount Pleasant High School. Following high school he worked at the Iowa Ordnance Plant in Middletown, Iowa and for the Fanhauser Dairy in Mount Pleasant. He was united in marriage to Vera Dayle Martin on April 10, 1947. He became associated with Mooreman Feed Co. 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 Co. which operated for a number of years. Procter & Gamble opened a facility in Iowa City in 1956; Don was one of its first employees. He remained with them for the next 29 years before retiring due to the progression of his Parkinson's 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 a 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; five grandchildren, Sonya Garrett (Chad) of Rochester Minn., Jeremy Martin of Glendale Ariz., Ryan Martin of Iowa City, Todd Janssen of Seoul, South Korea and Stephanie Janssen Hofer (Jon) of Hampton; three great-grandchildren, Tristen, Zander and Elliana Garrett; and four sisters, Hazel Hudson (James) of Cedar Rapids, Elaine Ingwersen (Carl) of Mount Pleasant, Joy Stone (Robert) of Mercersburg, Pa., and Carma Blosser of Surprise, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Jane Marie Martin; an infant brother and sister; and a brother-in-law, Leon Blosser.

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 at