Donald E. Martin

Age 71, of Lansing, went to be with his Lord on January 11, 2012. He was born December 20, 1940, in Greenville, OH, the son of Stanley and Mildred Martin.

Donald graduated from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, and Valparaiso University School of Law.  Donald served as the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney from 1986-1996 and as the President of the Prosecuting Attorneys Assoc. of Michigan for one term.  He then joined Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith where he served as partner and senior attorney for the past 15 years.

Donald was appointed to the Judicial Qualifications Committee for the State Bar of Michigan, the Michigan Court’s Commission to the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System, and served as Chair of the Appellate Defender Committee of the State Appellate Defender Office.  He was active in the Ingham County Bar Association and the American Inns of Court at MSU’s College of Law.  Donald chaired the Capital Area Family Violence Coordinating Committee and the Capital Area Response Effort. He served on Boards of Directors for the Oak Park YMCA and the Michigan Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence.  He taught at Lansing Community College as an adjunct faculty in its Mid Michigan Police Academy and the Criminal Justice Program.

A member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Donald’s past services included president of the Church and its Council as well as Chair of the Board of Stewardship, the Building Committee and Sponsor of the Luther League.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dorothy; sons, Jonathan (fiancée Jessica Root) Martin, David (Shelly) Martin and Jeremy (Gabriela) Martin; grandchildren, Anna, Ben, Amelia and Sofia; brother, Daniel Joe (Katie) Martin; sister, Ann Sieg; and many special aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Douglas Sieg.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 549 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing, with The Rev. James R. Lichtenberger and the Rev. Matthew A. Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Deepdale Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

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13 Messages to “Donald E. Martin

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Greg and Danita Root
January 12, 2012 at 9:46 am

Sending our deepest sympathies for the loss of Don. What a sincerely good man he was. He fought a good fight and now he can rest.

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Beth Brosmer
January 12, 2012 at 9:55 am

Dear Dorothy and Family,
My heart goes out to each of you as you experience the loss of Don. You can be sure that my thoughts and prayers surround you now and in the days ahead.
Much love,
Beth

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Bob & Bev Brosmer
January 12, 2012 at 10:41 am

Dear Dorothy & Family,
Know that you and your Family are in our thoughts and prayers in this time of sorrow. May the Angels take Don into paradise. Rest in Peace.
Lovingly,
Bob & Bev

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Marti Howe
January 12, 2012 at 11:38 am

My heart is sad but I know Don is resting in peace. The entire family is my prayers. May you find comfort in His warm embrace.

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Jolee Miller Hamlin
January 12, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Sincere and deep sympathy for you. Take comfort in his homecoming into the arms of his loving Father.

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Sue and Bob Christiansen
January 12, 2012 at 1:21 pm

Dear Dorothy and Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Don was such a wonderful man and such a blessing to our church and it’s members. He will be missed!

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Charmaine McDonald Johnson
January 12, 2012 at 1:41 pm

I met Don during my days at the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office. I saw him as gentleman who tried to do the right thing, with respect for his fellow man. His intelligent, articulate and soft-spoken demeanor stays with me even today. He was always polite when necessary and firm when necessary. A good man and I miss working with good people like Don. His time on earth is done – fought the good fight and never let the bad guys get him down. A shining example for all of us – job well done, Don.

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Jo Ellen DiNucci
January 12, 2012 at 2:48 pm

Dear Dorothy, Jonathon, David, Jeremy and family,

I just heard. I wish I could be there tomorrow, I will be in spirit. You are all a very special part of my life. Your family is a model for all, kind, loving, generous people. East Lansing is a place, good people make a place home. Don was one of those people. My heart and prayers go out to you.

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Dawn Van Hoek
January 12, 2012 at 4:28 pm

Don chaired our governing commission for years, with wisdom and grace. His quiet leadership often led to consensus on tough decisions, and the feeling that we shared an important mission. He always placed the highest value on serving our clients, indigent defendants who appeal their criminal convictions. He was much-loved and respected, and will be sorely missed. Dawn Van Hoek, Director, State Appellate Defender Office.

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Sandy Walsh
January 12, 2012 at 4:29 pm

So sad to hear this news! Don has a special place in my heart with the discussions we had. I was always checking out his ponytail and he was so proud of it. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you Dorothy and with your family.

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Judith Mirabelli-Migaldi
January 12, 2012 at 7:29 pm

To The Martin Family,
I feel blessed to have known Donald Martin. He was a very kind and compasionate person. I always respected and valued his wisdom and knowledge. I truly felt he always had my best interest at heart. He will be greatly missed by all, but his love will live on in all those who knew him. We must trust God to fill the void that we feel from our loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

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Mr.&Mrs. Eugene Villarreal, Sylvia, Debbie and Natalie Villarreal
January 14, 2012 at 9:58 am

Dear Dorothy and family,

The news of Donald’s passing caused shock and great sadness. He was a person of finest integrity and a great seeker of justice and what is right. It is tragic that leukemia can take away a gentle soul so swiftly such as Donald who was a gift to everyone whose lives he touched. We respected him as a talented attorney and because of his high regard for family and faith. We knew that Donald would serve our family well as we value his ethics and high standards. He will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you,
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene and Patricia Villarreal
Sylvia and Natalie Villarreal, and Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Debra (Villarreal)Stanton

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Judy, Bob and Bobby Gwizdz
January 14, 2012 at 1:22 pm

Don helped us figure out how to operate our pool when we moved in across the street from the Martins in East Lansing in 1989. One of the first memories of the neighborhood was Dorothy showing up with a plate of cookies. Don was a good neighbor, a nice guy and a sincere public servant. Our thoughts are with the entire Martin family.

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