Dennis Blaine Martin

Dennis Blaine Martin, 60, of Battle Creek, Michigan went to be with his Lord & Savior on July 23, 2022, after a long battle with heart disease.

He was born September 10, 1961, in Battle Creek to the son of Daniel and Hilda Martin. Dennis graduated in Battle Creek from Lakeview High School, class of 1979. In 1985 he earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Hearing Impaired & earned his master’s in Special Education in 1990 at Michigan State University with high honors and a 4.0.

He was a longtime employee of the Calhoun County Intermediate School District, teaching Special Education Highschool students up to 26 years old. Alongside his career, Dennis coached soccer, volleyball, and bowling for the Special Olympics.

Dennis had many hobbies and competed in model airplanes growing up and competitive kite flying when he was older and received many awards throughout Michigan. He had a creative eye for photography and spent time with his loving wife taking pictures of her bike tours while cheering her on. Dennis beautifully expressed himself using sign language to praise & worship songs and was a skilled ukulele player.

Many people may know his love for Michigan State and his passion for collecting Peanuts & Snoopy memorabilia. He loved to travel, go camping, & plant sunflowers with his daughters each year. One of his favorite vacations was visiting the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He captured magnificent pictures of the northern lights once in the Upper Peninsula near Mackinaw, his favorite place to vacation with his family.

We will miss his contagious laughter during a funny dad joke and caring heart for others. We love you to the moon & back and will think of you when we look up at the stars.

He was preceded in death by his father, Daniel L. Martin, and survived by his mother Hilda (Shellenberger) Martin, sisters Pam (David) Davis, and Melissa Martin, his wife & best friend Colleen (Egan) Martin, and loving daughters Allison Martin and Kaitlin (Evan) Martin-Sopchak.

A celebration of life will be held at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 157 Chapel Hill Dr. Battle Creek, MI 49015 on Thursday, August 18 at 1:00 PM, all are welcome.

Thank you, everyone, for your support and love expressed throughout this time. In place of flowers, we’d appreciate your consideration in donating to a cause close to Dennis’s heart and family, Light of Grace Recovery, an Eating Disorder & Mental Health Ministries scholarship fund in the care of Allison Martin. www.givebutter.com/DennisMartinMemorial

Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 2838 Capital Ave, SW Battle Creek, MI 49015. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.