Martin "Marty" F. McNamara Obituary (1916 - 2015)

Martin F. McNamara, age 99 of Eaton Rapids, MI, passed away on Friday, December 11, 2015. He was born on February 20, 1916 in the family farmhouse in Kiva, Michigan on land that his parents, Laurence and Sarah Belle (McEachen), homesteaded upon their arrival from Canada. He was one of 10 children born into this Irish/Scottish family in the predominately Finnish area of the Upper Peninsula. Both parents passed away before he was grown and Marty lived with his oldest sister, Julia McNamara Biekkola and her family. Marty graduated from L'Anse High school in 1937 as president of his class and where he taught wood shop his senior year of school. Marty moved to Eaton Rapids right after graduation to join his brother Mac (Lawrence) in his car business, McNamara Auto Sales. He attended General Motors Institute in Flint prior to enlisting in the US Army. Returning to Eaton Rapids after the war he rejoined his brother, and spent a 43 year career in car sales as the company changed hands from McNamara to Cochran to Cooper. He was the consummate car salesman, achieving top state-wide sales awards and even selling a car to a hitchhiker he picked up. Marty's years in car sales brought him into contact with many Eaton County families often serving many generations of car-buyers. For a short time in the 1970s, Marty and Evelyn owned, and along with several of their older children, ran McNamara Citgo Station on Main Street. Marty was a decorated WWII veteran assigned to the 119th Field Artillery, paratrooper. He was a Motor Sergeant in the Aleutian Islands, receiving a bronze star in the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. Marty also received the Sharpshooter and Marksmen badges. Like many other WWII veterans, he received the WWII Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the American Defense Service Medal. Marty was lucky enough to be included on an Honor Flight to visit Washington DC's veteran memorial. On a return visit home to the Upper Peninsula, Marty met a beautiful French-Canadian woman who would become his wife and loving partner for 62 years. Together Marty and Evelyn Mae Lancour Rabideau, married on June 21, 1946 and raised their 17 children in a modest home on the banks of the Grand River in Eaton Rapids. Marty was active in many faith based and community based charities and organizations throughout his life. He was first and foremost a devout Catholic. Marty had been a member of St Peter parish since the parish was housed in the little stone church on the corner of Knight and River Streets. He was instrumental in the building of the interim church and then the current modern church complex. His church leadership included being a founding member and past grand knight of the St. Peter Council 6534 of the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent DePaul Society. Marty and Evelyn were active participants in such things as the church festival and other fundraising endeavors, attending church almost daily and always ministering to the needs of others. Marty took the trip of his lifetime to Rome, where he served mass at St Peter Basilica for his good friend and then parish priest Father Ben Constantine. Marty was an Eagle Scout. He and his brother Mac helped establish the first scout troop in Eaton Rapids and for over 60 years helped the youth of his adopted town pursue their own Boy Scout ambitions. Marty delivered Meals on Wheels well into his 90's and was also instrumental in establishing the service organization Heart and Hands. Marty took up golf after his retirement and became an accomplished golfer which he enjoyed to the end. Marty joins his wife Evelyn, daughter Rhea, son-in-law Mike, and grandson Chad in Heaven. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Marie, Julia, Lawrence, James, Sherman, Agnes, Cecile, Florence and Patricia. He is survived by his children, Gary and Julie (Wager) McNamara, Pat and Carol (Gibbs) McNamara, Lynn and Herb Blue, Larry and Sue (Dowding) McNamara, Joe McNamara, Mitch and Helen (Sanford) McNamara, Nan and Jerry Holden, Bob McNamara and Tom Rice, Kitty and Mike Green, Peg Wilcox and Julie Nathe, Mary McNamara, Susie and Floyd Baker, Chris McNamara and Nancy Ksiazek, Vince and Kim (Franks) McNamara, Theo McNamara, Steve and Brigid (Burns) McNamara. Marty leaves 27 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Rite of Christian Burial will be at 11:00am on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at St Peter Catholic Church, Eaton Rapids. Visitation will be held on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids and at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. A rosary will be prayed at the funeral home on Monday at 7:00pm. Internment will take place at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the St Vincent DePaul Eaton Rapids Chapter or the Return the Rapids to Eaton Rapids river project. For online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com