Joseph C. MARTIS

MARTIS Joseph C. Joseph C. Martis, 98, of East Toledo and Rossford, passed away at the Perrysburg Commons on Saturday, October 8, 2011. He was born March 18, 1913, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to John Martis and Eva Labuda Martis. In June 1913, he traveled to Slovakia with his mother; brothers, Steve and John Jr. and sister, Anna, to visit relatives in the village of Horný Hricov. Trapped in Europe by WW I under austere conditions, they did not return to America until August 1924 arriving in New York City and Ellis Island on the Ocean Liner Zeeland via Bremerhaven, Germany. Joseph attended Oakdale Public School and Woodward Technical High School until his initial employment with Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in 1931. He married Elizabeth Gadus November 19, 1935. They celebrated 71 years of marriage before Elizabeth's passing in December 2006. During the Depression he worked with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and during WW II Willys Overland Jeep and Bullet Corps. He returned full-time to LOF in 1944 retiring in 1975. He was a loyal member of the United Glass and Ceramics Union, and his family is grateful for the worker protection and economic opportunity they provided. Joseph was a 65 + year member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church serving in numerous capacities, including Eucharistic Minister until the age of 90. Joseph was a kind, gentle and compassionate man who dedicated his time, talent and treasures to his family, home, neighbors, friends and church. His "Love Boxes" are legendary among all he met, and he continued to craft them himself until recently. Living to his advanced age, Joseph was the last of his generation in the Martis family, preceded in death by his parents; his siblings and their spouses, Steve (Anna), John (Mary) and Anna (Joseph Jaros). His last years were spent in the loving care of the staff at Perrysburg Commons and his last weeks were given peace and dignity in the care of Heartland Hospice. The family will always remember the kindness of those individuals. Joseph is survived by sons, Joseph A. Martis (Germaine) of Harper Woods, Michigan, Kenneth C. Martis (Myra) of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Thomas R. Martis (Linda) of Cleveland, and granddaughters, Pamela Martis (Dan Denske) of Birmingham, Michigan, Kasemarie Martis of Phoenix, Arizona, Holly Martis of New York City, and Heather Buskirk (Wesley) of Columbus. He was the beloved "Uncle Joe" to 29 nieces and nephews and their spouses and children. Friends and family may visit at Sujkowski Funeral Home of Rossford, 830 Lime City Rd., on Friday, October 14, 2011, from 2 - 8 PM where Recitation of the Rosary and memories of life will be held at 7:15 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011, beginning at 9:15 AM in the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM at Good Shepherd Church. Internment will follow in Lake Township Cemetery with a reception held afterwards at Good Shepherd Church. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Good Shepherd Church, Toledo, Ohio or Heartland Hospice. To leave a special message for the family please visit www.sujkowskirossford.com