James L. Martin, age 85, of Monmouth, Illinois; passed away at 8:25 am on Thursday January 13, 2022 at Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth. Jim was born on November 20, 1936 in Galesburg, Illinois and is the son of Albert Louis and Anne Marie Hreno Martin. He was raised in Monmouth where he attended Frymire Grade School and Monmouth High School, from which he graduated in 1954. Jim married Patti L. Chapin on September 20, 1957 in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa and she is surviving him. Jim joined and was a member of the 123rd Field Artillery in Monmouth for a number of years. Jim has been a farmer in grain and livestock all of his life on the family farm in Warren County. He has been a ” Jack of All Trades ” in his lifetime first working at Admiral Corporation in Galesburg, and later did carpenter work for John Sheridan. He also sold equipment at Martin and Clark Implement Dealer in Monmouth and lastly worked at the Bruce Foote dealership in Monmouth. Jim then was the head of Maintenance at Warren School for the next sixteen years until his retirement in 2000. Jim is a charter member of the Dragon Coolies Hot Rod Club. Due to his love of Pottery, he is a founding father of Old Sleepy Eye Collector Club of America, a charter member of the Blue and White Collector Club, and charter member of the Collector Of Illinois Pottery and Stoneware. Jim was also instrumental in the development of Pottery on the Square in Monmouoth. Jim Co-authored the Monmouth Western Stoneware Book, with his friend, Betty Cooper. Jim is an avid Cardinal’s Baseball Fan and University of Illinois Basketball Fan. He loved to go camping, but his main love was in his family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and the family farm. He is survived by his wife, Patti L. Martin of Monmouth, Illinois and his son, Brad Martin and Betty of Monmouth, Illinois and his daughters, Julie Stack and Brad of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and Susie Frieden and Trevor of Monmouth, Illinois. There are eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren surviving. His sister also survives, June Kalb of St. Augustine, Illinois. Jim is preceded in his death by his parents, an infant son, Gary Lee, a brother, Joe, his sister, Jackie and his half brother John.
As were his wishes, no visitation or funeral service is being planned as cremation has been accorded. A memorial fund is being established for the donor’s choice.. To leave a remembrance or for more information please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.
