DONALD R. MARTIN

February 22, 1932 – January 11, 2026

ELKHART- Donald R. Martin, 93, of Elkhart, went home peacefully to be with his Heavenly Father on January 11, 2026. He was born on February 22, 1932, in Elkhart, IN, to the late Andrew and Myra (Gerring) Martin.  He was married to Mary (Fuzzell) Martin in 1951. She preceded him in death along with a son, Brent; three sisters and three brothers. He leaves behind 2 daughters, Karen (Rick) Freedline and Wanda (Frank) Cataldo; 3 grandchildren, Josh (Kelly) Freedline, Holly (Tex) Farrell and Nicole (Tim) Gallen; 12 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Sisters-in-law, Carolyn Butler, Marylou Martin and Marcia Martin; several nieces and nephews; and 2 very special people, Jose and Silvia Morales.

He served in the Korean War with Alpha Battery, 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion as a Corporal.  He received the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, one of which was for his extraordinary heroism in the performance of exceptionally difficult tasks in the vicinity of Kumsong, Korea on July 10, 1953.

He worked at C.G. Conn for 23 years as a bell maker for sousaphones while building 600 a week. He was a Chief Steward for the UAW and invented the freeze bending technique for saxophone mouthpieces. After he left C.G. Conn, he worked many years in ground maintenance for the Gerring Estate, as well as being a landlord for many homes he owned in Elkhart. After retirement, he worked part-time for several band instrument companies including E.K. Blessings and Vincent Bach. He later traveled to Chicago three days a week for work at Buell Manufacturing where he trained employees to spin bells for air horns.

He and his wife were members at Hillcrest United Methodist Church for many years, and then later in life attended Trinity United Methodist Church where they were married. He was a Father who adored his family and worked hard for them to make sure his family had what they needed.

We would like to give special thanks to Angel, his in-home caretaker, Heart to Heart Hospice, and all the special nurses at Eastlake Rehabilitation.

The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the 2:00 p.m. Celebration of Life service on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home, 700 East Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, IN. Pastor Karen Koelsch will officiate. Inurnment will follow at Rice Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Heart to Heart Hospice, Kane Masonic Lodge #183 or the Shriners Boys and Girls Camp.