Obituary: Martin

Posted on May 14, 2017

Irene Lucille Martin

FLANAGAN- Irene Lucille Martin, 77, of Flanagan, IL, formerly of Plainfield and Pontiac, passed away at 11:35 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home with Pastor Joel Paine officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Memorial Park Cemetery in rural Pontiac. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stroke Foundation.

Irene was born June 16, 1939 in Pontiac, IL a daughter of Kenneth and Maxine (Langhoff) Johnson. She married Wendell Royce Martin, Sr. on November 9, 1957 in Washington, IL. He survives.

Also surviving is one son: Seth (Rosa) Martin of Pontiac, IL; two daughters: Diane Martin of Pontiac, IL and Peggy (Ken) Hensel of Columbia, MO; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; her siblings: Kathryn (David) Compton, Kenneth (Betty) Johnson, Maxine Shavez, Beverly (Garey) Evans; and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son: Wendell Royce Martin, Jr.; one grandson: Jake Martin; and two siblings: Richard and Donna Johnson.

Irene was educated in the Pontiac schools. She drove a school bus in the Joliet area.

She was a member of the Livingston County Assembly of God. Irene liked doing crafts, crocheting, fishing, and most of all, her grandbabies.

Irene was a loving wife, mom, grandma, great grandma, sister, aunt, and friend who will be greatly missed.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to the family at calvertmemorial.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…