Michael Nelson Martens' Obituary
Michael N. Martens, 77, of Fruitport Township, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at North Ottawa Community Hospital where he had been a patient for two weeks. He was the owner of West Michigan Notary, a mobile notary signing business. He had been a computer tech with the City of Muskegon and was a customer engineer with IBM for many years. He had also worked as a computer tech for various computer-related businesses. For the past several years, he had been an election precinct chair for the City of Norton Shores.
He was born Sept. 23, 1943, in Lansing and was a graduate of Lansing Everett High School, held an associate degree in electronics from Lansing Community College, and received his bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2008 from Baker College in Muskegon. Mike was a computer guy, a ham radio operator, a tinkerer and an avid reader, especially sci fi and science-based magazines. He often would respond to things by saying, “That’s interesting!” and then would research and read all he could find on the subject. He was a gentle man who always helped other people without hesitation.
Mike and his wife loved to travel, noting especially their cruise to Alaska and more recently around the Hawaiian islands. They spent many memorable times in Seattle with his daughter and son-in law on their sailboat and traveling around the Upper Peninsula. They also were volunteer lighthouse keepers at Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington for several years.
Surviving are his wife Suzanne (Thaler/Jentoft), whom he married on Sept. 21, 2003 on the shores of Lake Michigan; daughter Monica (David) Gilbert of Spokane, WA; granddaughter, Amelia Gilbert; brother, Max Martens of Lansing; stepdaughters, Amy (Keith) Hussar of Oscoda and Kristine (Mark) Peppin of Lewiston; step-grandchildren: James, John, Jacob and Richard Hussar, and Madison, Kira and Aubrey Peppin; brothers-in-law Robert (Janet Patrick) Thaler of Bay City, David (Karen) Thaler of Spokane, WA, Stephen (Linda) Thaler of Kent City, and Jerald (Janet) Thaler of Findlay, Ohio; several nieces, nephews and cousins by marriage; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nelson and Helene Martens.
According to his wishes, cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held in the summer for scattering of his ashes over Lake Michigan and Puget Sound, where he had many happy memories. Memorials may be directed to the family. You may sign his online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444.
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