John Joseph Martin
Born In: New Waterford
Born: December 29th, 1919
Passed in: Sydney
Passed on: September 18th, 2014
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of John Joseph Martin, M.M., of 9 Grant St., Glace Bay, N.S who passed away Sept. 18, 2014 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, with family at his bedside.
John was born in New Waterford, Cape Breton and moved to Glace Bay with his family.
He served overseas and began his military career with the Cape Breton Highlanders and later transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He was a Normandy veteran and was amongst the first to land at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. He was later awarded a Military Medal for an action of bravery he was involved in on June 7, 1944; D-Day plus 1.
He went to Europe with the Canadian Troops and was part of the Canadian Troops that liberated Holland near the end of the Second World War.
As a young man he worked as a coal miner in Cape Breton and also enjoyed being active in the recreational sports of fastball and hockey, and in later years enjoyed coaching youth hockey.
He moved his young family to Brampton, Ont., where he worked for a number of years before returning back to Cape Breton. Upon his return to Cape Breton he worked as a cook on the draggers out of Louisbourg.
John was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was predeceased by his wife, Susannah (Sue Crews); father, Jack Martin; mother, Charlotte (Gillis); sisters, Rita, Catherine, Barbara; brothers, Buddie, Roy, Adrian (Minnow) and Enis.
He is survived by his five children, John (Annie), Alberta; David, Ontario; Connie Flack (Don), Alberta; Barbara Partridge (Allan), Alberta and Tom, Glace Bay, N.S.; eight grandchildren, Bryan Martin, Martine Partridge, Calynda Archer, Chuck Martin, Jacob Martin, Andrea Flack, Justin Flack and Michael Martin; five great-grandchildren, Abby, Kiley, Alexander 'Xander', Riley and Jaxon.
John will be fondly and warmly remembered for his keen sense of humour, he was always ready to share a laugh with friends and family, and he was always eager to share stories of his life experiences and adventures. John was very musically inclined and enjoyed playing multiple instruments including the fiddle, accordion and harmonica.
A sincere thanks to the staff of 4B at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and the palliative care team for your compassionate care of our father.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Curry’s Funeral Home 775 Main St., Glace Bay. Visitation will be held on Monday, Sept. 22nd, from 7-9 p.m. at Curry’s Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at Curry’s Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.jmcurryfuneralhome.com.
