Caleb Joseph Martin's Obituary
Stanwood - Caleb Joseph Martin, 29, was a dedicated fisherman, sensational chef, skilled wood worker, and a man gifted with the most loving of hearts. Caleb died quickly but peacefully on March 16, 2016 in Stanwood, Michigan.From a young age, Caleb had a fighters spark in him, it was in his blood. Born on September 30th, 1986 to Joseph Martin, a pastor, and Mary (Mehlberg) Martin, a pastor & worship leader, Caleb would fight for whom and what he loved no matter how tough the battle may have been.A carpenter and craftsman by nature, Caleb worked a multitude of jobs, all the way from mowing theMesick Church lawn and selling Christmas Trees in Detroit, to finish carpentry on million dollar yachts in Swansboro, North Carolina. There was no shortage of skills when it came to Caleb; and for those whoknow construction, he would even do the jobs that many avoided - drywall installer and taper. When itcame to completing a job, you would never hear the words "I can't do that"; instead, what you wouldhear and see was the broken car running, the jammed saw mill turning, the house frame built, and thebiggest fish in the river hooked.Caleb enjoyed some of the finer foods in life, and if you ever asked him to make a pot of coffee, hewould ensure that it was strong enough to keep you up for the next couple of days. He was a chef of alldifferent tastes, but his true passion was catching and preparing Steelhead fish out of the Manistee,Muskegon, & Boardman rivers. At family gatherings, when you walked into the kitchen and saw everyburner on the stove cooking, the oven baking, the microwave rotating, and the bread machine kneading, there was never a question of who was in charge of the kitchen madness.Knowledge was power to Caleb. He was fascinated with psychology and the human mind, which led him to always be the center of attention without ever trying, and he knew just how to cheer anyone up. He was a loving son, dedicated brother, loyal friend, and a passionate uncle to all his nieces & nephews.Caleb will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.Caleb is survived by his parents Joseph & Mary, his Grandmother Mary, his sisters Hannah & Naomi, and his brothers Josiah, Amos & brother-in-law Alex, his girlfriend Shelby Douglas, his nieces Celina, Kiera, Liana, Talitha, & Shiloh, his nephews Brendan and Liam.Memorial services for Caleb will be 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 20, 2016, at The Woods Free Methodist Church in Stanwood, with his uncle, Pastor Dave Martin, officiating. His cremains will be interred in the Highland Park Cemetery in Ionia. Caleb's family will greet friends at the church beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Memorial contributions for the wishes of the family may be left in care of the church, or the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids,
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