Virginia Elizabeth Martin

Virginia Elizabeth Michael Martin, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at Spectrum Health Lakeland—Niles.

She was born July 15, 1929, in Eau Claire to Albert and Elizabeth (“Lizzie” Zech) Michael. As a young girl Virginia attended Maple Grove one-room school and later graduated from Eau Claire High School. After high school she went to nurses’ training in Detroit and Chicago for a short time. In lieu of a nursing career, she married Henry Thomas Martin on August 8, 1948, and went to work as a secretary, spending most of her career with Packard Industries in Niles. Hank and Virginia had 59 wonderful years together until his passing in 2007.

“Ginny” was never one to let something stump her. She was hardworking, creative and could truly do or make anything she set her mind to. She enjoyed many hobbies such as sewing, quilting, and painting, to name a few. Ginny spent many years doing genealogy on both sides of the family, which culminated in a trip to the Westminster Abbey Cathedral in London to see the crypt of a multi-generational great-grandfather. She was always up for an adventure, loved to play games with her grandchildren, and always made life fun!

In retirement she played tennis and traveled to many states with Hank in their motorhome. Some of their more adventurous trips were to Mexico in a caravan of motorhomes, and trips to Alaska and New Zealand.

Virginia worshipped at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. Her faith was true and everlasting.

She is predeceased by her husband, Henry; her sisters, Margaret Michael Ertman and Frances Michael Coffinger; and her brother, Albert “Bud” Michael.

Virginia is survived by her four children: sons, Michael T. Martin of Niles and Jeffrey A. (Nancy) Martin of Berrien Springs, and daughters, Jan Martin Jones (Thomas Campbell) of South Haven and Robyn Anderson (Keith) of Christchurch, New Zealand; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be Tuesday, June 16, at Bowerman Funeral Home in Eau Claire. Friends are invited to visit beginning at 10:30 a.m., and the funeral will follow at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Joe Liss of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Niles officiating. Committal services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Fernwood Botanical Gardens. Online messages and memories may be shared at www.bowermanfuneral.com.