Michael Joseph
Martin
June 13, 1937 - May 24, 2020
Michael Joseph Martin, age 82, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 24, 2020, surrounded by his wife and children. Visitation will be Thursday night from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Spry Williams Funeral Home in Florence. A celebration of his life will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Spry-Williams Chapel with Father Roy Runkle officiating. Following the service, the family will accompany him in a private procession to visit his McDonald’s Restaurants one last time. Burial will be held at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago, IL.
Mike grew up in Chicago, IL, graduated from St. Rita High School, and retired from Certified Grocers as the director of purchasing for the frozen foods division.
In 1980, Mike and his long-time friend, Robert Korink, moved to North Alabama after purchasing two McDonald’s restaurants. Their partnership developed to a total of fourteen McDonald’s restaurants in the Shoals area. In 1998, Mike took sole ownership of the McDonald’s of Colbert County, developing M.J. Martin, Inc., which he ran with his family. Since that time, his wife, Debra and son, Michael, became owner/operators. They purchased the Russellville McDonald’s in 2011. They, along with his daughter, Rebecca, will carry on his McDonald’s legacy. In 1985, Robert Korink, Mike, Dan and Geri Tapper bought Lauderdale Lanes and operated it for many years.
Mike loved this community and spent his McDonald’s career giving back in many ways, including supporting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, sponsoring many Helen Keller Festivals and Watermelon Festivals, supporting the Easter Seal-Northwest Alabama Rehabilitation Center, Northwest Shoals Community College, UNA Sportsman Club and many local schools and public service organizations.
During his McDonald’s career, Mike received many awards, including two prestigious Ronald Awards, which is given to operators for community service. He loved his employees and many of them looked up to him as a father figure. He was known for being a man of great integrity.
Mike was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and was thrilled to watch them win the 2016 World Series. He also loved the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Auburn Tigers Football.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Katherine Martin; son-in-law, Dr. Kelly Ludwig, PhD; and sister-in-law, Melissa Trotman.
Survivors include his loving wife of 30 years, Debra Martin; children, Debbie Ludwig, Denise Pashos and husband, Pete, Michael Martin, and Rebecca Kimbrough and husband, Seth; grandchildren, Michael Pavick and wife, Kacie, Delaney Bingham and husband, Rocky, Ryan Ludwig and fiancé Gianna Elyce, Gina Pashos, Madison Trotman, Avery Rippey, Macale Rippey, London Kimbrough and Lincoln Kimbrough; and great-grandchildren, Ronin Pavlick, Reece Pavlick and Roxanna Marie Pavlick.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities in memory of Mike Martin, 1700 4th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35173 or online at www.rmhca.org/donate or the Easter Seal-Northwest Alabama Rehabilitation Center, 1450 Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661.
The family would like to express their appreciation to North Alabama Medical Center staff, especially Teresa (5th Floor) and Tyler and Sierra of the ICU. A special thanks to Dr. Danny McFall, Dr. Jeffrey DeFoor, and to Kathy Foster of Rhuematology Associates. You may leave condolences at sprywilliams.com
Visitation
May 28, 2020
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Spry-Williams Funeral Home
Visitation
Spry Williams Funeral Home, Helton Drive, Florence, AL, USA
May 28, 2020 5:00 pm
Get DirectionsCelebration of Life
May 29, 2020
10:00 am
Spry-Williams Funeral Home
Celebration of Life
Spry Williams Funeral Home, Helton Drive, Florence, AL, USA
May 29, 2020 10:00 am
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8 Comments on “Michael Joseph Martin”
Debbie, Denise & Michael,
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved dad ! Glad I got to meet him at Delaney’s wedding.
What a sweet and wonderful man who treasured his family. He will be missed but know that he is in
God’s loving arms now, and will be watching over you !
Pat Park
To All of Michael’s Family
I am so sorry for your loss. May God Bless Him and Comfort all of you.
Sincerely,
Debs Co-worker and Friend at Atlas Putty
Milly Knierim
What can be said about this man that I admired so much. I started to work for him on January 14, 1981. I didn’t know him that well then but I did respect him. It’s a small thing but I remember I was in the process of taking out the garbage and he came in to the store. He saw what I was doing and saw the trouble I was having with the bags. He stopped and said, “Here, tie the bags like this”. Yeah, it as a small thing but I appreciated it very much. Five years later, I started working at McDonald’s Office. It was there that I own so much to Mr. Martin. When I first started there, I was required to wear a tie. I didn’t have a problem with that, but I didn’t know how to tie one. Mr. Martin, took the time to teach me how to tie it. I never told him how much I appreciated that. When the stores were divided up between the families, I was asked by Mr. Martin if I wanted to go work for him. I immediately said, Yes. There have been many changes over the years, but Mr. Martin has always stayed the same. I loved and appreciated him. And I thought of him more as family than as a boss. The world will be a much darker place without him in it. Rest in peace, my friend….you will be missed.
Dear Debra, Our hearts are with you. I did not know Mike personally having only met him on occasions. However, his actions told me I missed knowing a special man. He and you opened your home and love to your families and he and you lovingly cared for your grandfather, Uncle Paul. The words of Mr. Randolph’s message here in the guestbook are even more evidence. May the Lord softly wipe away your tears and gently hold you in His loving arms through today and the days ahead. I regret we will not be able to be with you. You are in my heart and my prayers. Janet Delk Roberts
I was blessed to be his secretary for 15 years. He was such a caring and understanding boss, a truly wonderful person. It was my pleasure to work for him and with him and to know him. He appreciated everything I did for him, even such a small thing as getting his coffee each day. Not only do I feel the sadness and pain of his passing, but all my family does as well. With that said, we all want to express our love and deepest condolences to Debbie Martin and all the family. You all are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time in your lives.
Love, Christine, Michael, Glen, and Kimberly Stevens
Debbie, We go way back with Mike from the days at Certified in Chicago to the days of Lauderdale Lanes in Florence.
I could write pages about Mike, but the bottom line is that he was a good man, a kind man, and a great friend.
Mike was one of a kind … the best kind! We loved him and know that he is in heaven now. Our love to you,
Michael, Debbie, Denise and Becky. Dan & Geri Tapper
We are truly sorry to learn of the loss of your Father. Our deepest sympathies go out to your entire family. May God give him eternal rest and the family strength and comfort during this time of grief. Keeping all of you in our prayers.
Sincere condolences & care,
Tom & Joy Michalak – Atlas Putty Co-Workers
Debbie,Delaney, Ryan and family,
My heart, thoughts and prayers with all of you as I have empathy with your loss. Hold on to those loving memories, they will always be with you.
God bless Mr. Martin, rest in peace. ❤
Much love, Ruth and John