We mourn the sudden loss of our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, David “Dave” Eugene Martina, who passed away at his home in Barbeau, Michigan, on the morning of December 19, 2023. He was 82 years old. His neighbor and good friend “Gunny” heard the 911 call and was at his side in his last moments.
Dave was born on August 13, 1941, to Raymond and Dorothy “Goldie” Martina. He grew up in Detroit with five brothers, and at 18, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps to become a member of the elite Force Recon. After leaving the service, he started a family and trained to be a journeyman carpenter. Over the years, he shared his building skills with many family members and friends, and in 1969, he started working on a family cabin near Rose City, Michigan. It became a gathering place during both the summer and winter; a place to have cookouts, go swimming, fishing, and trail riding, and enjoy the outdoors.
Besides his time in the Marines, he was also proud to serve his country in the Air National Guard and Army National Guard. Dave was a man of many talents, working during his life as a construction supervisor, apartment complex manager, machine operator, production foreman, and self-employed carpenter. He retired from serving as the maintenance supervisor at the Smithsonian Institution’s Whipple Observatory in Amado, Arizona. A lead astronomer there once said, “We just work here. Dave is the boss!”
After moving to the Upper Peninsula when he retired, Dave enjoyed spending time with family and friends and traveling to Florida in the winter. His favorite activities were reading westerns, especially those by William W. Johnstone, eating out at restaurants, and visiting with his friends at the senior lunches. Most recently, he acted as a Director of the new nonprofit Reina Recycling and Resource Recovery in Sault Ste. Marie.
Dave is survived by his first wife Jean (née Prince) Martina and their daughter Sherry (Chuck) Kruch, his second wife Brenda DeWitt and their daughter Brandie Jane DeWitt Martina, two grandchildren, Brian (Yuejiang) Kloosterman Jr. and Emily (Phillip) Hastings, and three great-grandchildren, Cornelia, David, and Russell. He is also survived by his brother Gilbert Martina, and his sister-in-law Judy Martina, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Lawrence, Jerome, Ronald, and Kenneth Martina.
Dave will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a good, hard-working man with a kind and generous heart who always helped others as best he could.
Out of respect to Dave’s wishes, his remains will be cremated, and life celebrations will be planned at a later date. The family asks that donations be made in his memory to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots - https://www.toysfortots.org - or Reina Recycling and Resource Recovery - https://www.reina-recycling.org/.
Family Life Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com
