He was born on May 6, 1949, to John and Lucille Martin in Sandusky, Ohio. He grew up, worked and lived at Martin’s Marina, his family’s business. John graduated from Margaretta High School and attended Bowling Green State University. He worked in the restaurant industry for most of his adult life.
John was extremely proud of his three musical children from his first marriage. His son, Chris plays the trumpet and sings, daughter, Elisabeth sings and has her own business “The Blonde Swan”, and daughter, Alison is a music teacher and sings. He moved to Mansfield in 1998 where he met his beloved wife, Mary. They just celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary on October 7. John wrote beautiful poetry for his wife and mother. He enjoyed playing Santa Claus for his grandchildren, the Big Sisters Program and for the Friendly House.
He loved a good joke, collecting trains and coins, and Cleveland sports. John was a history buff and could tell you anything you needed to know when it came to the Presidents or American history. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sandusky, Ohio, a current member of M1 Church in Mansfield, Ohio. He was a troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America. John was very proud of his son’s military service in the US Marine Corps and founded The Parent Platoon.
John welcomed three foreign exchange boys into his life and home. With his deep voice and presence, he curated, produced, and acted in commercials on TV and radio for Fingertip Salon and Identity Salon. He was the owner of Martin’s Salon in Mansfield. John was able to fulfill his mother’s dream of traveling to Ireland to see his family crest and learn about his heritage.
He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
John is survived by his wife, Mary (Muntan Beach) Martin; children, Christopher (Sarah) Martin of Columbus, Ohio, Elisabeth (Alexander Poznanski) Martin of Fremont, Ohio, and Alison M. (Donald) Gregory of Lakewood, Ohio; four grandchildren, Anna Josephine Gregory, Audrey Lucille Gregory, Amelia Grace Gregory, and Ruby Lucille Martin; stepchildren, Amanda (David) Fields of De Smet, South Dakota, Andrew (Marina) Beach of Columbus, Ohio, and Adam (Goldie) Beach of Lake Worth, Florida; eleven step grandchildren, Isabella Fields, Caliana Fields, Charlotte Fields, Evangeline Fields, Ethan Beach, Owen Beach, Evan Beach, Maksim Kravchenko, Carter Beach, Dylan Beach, and Henry Beach; and two sisters, Jacqueline Martin of Washington D.C. and Mary Martin Fisk of Glenview, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his loving parents, John W. and Lucille Moran Martin; sisters, Valerie Martin and Virginia Martin Boyer; and nephew, Douglas Boyer.
A celebration of life will be held at M1 Church, 1000 McPherson St., Mansfield, on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
John’s dogs were a very important part of his life. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Richland County.
Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario is honored to serve the family.
