Joseph Martin

Reverend Joseph E. Martin, 90, of Colona, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at Genesis Medical Center, Silvis. Funeral services will be noon Monday at Colona United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Schroder Mortuary in Colona is assisting the family with arrangements. Burial will be at Dayton Corners Cemetery in Colona. Memorials may be made to the Preachers Aid Society or National Diabetes Association. Joseph was born Oct. 12, 1925, in Versailles, Ill., son of Lyndle and Lois Curron Martin. He graduated from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., and went on to receive his master's at Evanston Seminary. Joe married Eileen Noble on Oct. 4, 1944 in Mount Sterling, Ill. She passed away March 9, 1995. He later married Juanita Rickey on April 13, 1996, at Matzens Lake in Orion. She passed away Dec. 14, 2005. He served as a minister for more than 30 years in various churches in Illinois. Joe played the role of Soupy the Clown to minister to patients in various facilities around central Illinois. His most recent ministry was at Colona United Methodist Church. He retired in the early 1990s. He was a member of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church, he participated in the first Cardiac Rehab Group in Moline and still enjoyed going to the Moline YMCA five days a week. He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodcarving, gardening and spending time with his four-legged fury friends. Joe also enjoyed touring the United States in his RV, often wintering in Texas, and his coffee clutch group at Colona United Methodist Church and the Colona City Garage. Survivors include his daughters, Sharon (Everett) Welty of Mount Sterling, and Peggy (Gary) Blackmore of Eureka, Ill.; sons, Reggie (Debbie) Martin of Oakwood, Ill., and Randall (Michelle) Martin of El Paso, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Eve (Tom) Herbick; and his dog, Willie. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; wives; sons, Brad and Michael; a brother, Richard; and a grandson, Patrick.