Donald G. Martin

Donald Gene Martin, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on October 21, 2026, at the age of 89.

Born on August 8, 1937, to Margaret A. (Pogue) and Arnit A. Martin, Don lived a life defined by ingenuity, hard work, quiet kindness, and an extraordinary ability to figure out just about anything. He was a man of remarkable talent and resourcefulness who never needed to draw attention to himself. If you asked him, he would simply tell you he was a country boy that made good.

Above all else, Don was a family man. He shared 60 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Helen F. (Sutton) Martin, affectionately known as Dodie. Together, they built a life filled with love, family, travel, shared interests, and countless memories. Their relationship was a partnership in the truest sense, one that endured through the joys of raising a family and the challenges life inevitably brought. When Dodie developed Alzheimer’s disease, Don cared for her devotedly through her decline, demonstrating the depth of his love through his patience, commitment, and tenderness. Dodie passed away in 2019, leaving a profound absence in Don’s life. He missed her fiercely, and the love they shared remained an enduring part of who he was.

Don’s family was a source of deep pride and love. He is survived by his two sons, D. Kevin Martin and his wife, Denise, and Greg A. Martin and his wife, Cathy; his brother, Doug Martin; and his sister, Joan Scheulen.

His legacy continues through his five grandchildren: Scott (Nikki) Martin, Heather (Blair) Steighorst, Kayla (Andy) Lucas, Todd (Ciara) Martin, and Chad (Fallon) Martin. He was also a proud great-grandfather to Hadley, Owen, Aubrey, Sawyer, Rosemary, Myles, Bode, Ruby, and Matilda.

To his family, Don was much more than the man who could fix anything or build just about anything imaginable. He was a steady presence, a gentle soul, and someone whose quiet accomplishments often spoke louder than words. There was a playful side to Don, too. He occasionally surprised the family with a story they had never heard before, delivering it with a grin and a promise that he still had a few secrets left to tell. Those stories, along with memories like the time he did a flip off the dock, are the moments that will continue to bring smiles and laughter for years to come.

Don was, quite simply, a genius. He had a natural curiosity, an inventive mind, and the determination to turn an idea into something tangible. His talents seemed limitless, and if he didn’t know how to do something, he taught himself.

Over the years, he built clocks, locks, puzzles, rooms, decks, sheds, acoustic and electric guitars, and even a mandolin adorned with pearl inlays. He crafted custom picture frames, jewelry boxes, shelves, tables, benches, and a kayak. He rebuilt tractors, cars, lawnmowers, and boats, and even built a car from scratch. Many of the things he created were made using tools he had designed and built himself.

His creativity extended far beyond woodworking and mechanics. He designed computer programs, taught himself to weld, and developed a love for cooking and baking. He enjoyed whittling small trinkets and always seemed to have another project in mind.

When physical strength presented a challenge, Don found a solution. He engineered pulleys and slides that allowed him to move his own heavy bedroom furniture. Where others might have seen a limitation, he saw a problem waiting to be solved.

His ingenuity was matched by his perseverance. When he and Dodie moved from Washington, Missouri, to Dardenne Prairie, Don decided he might be getting too old for woodworking and sold his tools. That decision didn’t last long. Before long, he had purchased more tools and was back at it, even building a sawdust collection system to keep Dodie’s house clean.

For Don, creating wasn’t simply a hobby. It was part of who he was. His hands were rarely idle, his mind was always working, and there was seemingly nothing he couldn’t figure out.

Don’s professional life reflected the same resourcefulness and determination that characterized everything he did.

He began his working years in the family-owned sawmill and later worked as a mechanic at a service station. He went on to McDonnell Douglas, where he held several positions in the Phantom fighter program, and also worked as a union electrician.

Ultimately, he found his professional home at Melton Machine and Control Company. What began as a modest operation in a garage grew into a company where Don would spend 25 years of his career, eventually retiring as executive vice president.

His journey from those humble beginnings to executive leadership was a testament to his intelligence, work ethic, and ability to see what something could become. He never forgot where he started, and he carried the same practical wisdom and quiet determination throughout his life.

Don enjoyed many interests throughout his life. He was a ham radio operator, an amateur photographer with his own darkroom, and an enthusiastic hunter in his earlier years. Fishing, however, remained a favorite pastime. Whether it was a lake, a river, or another body of water, Don was happy as long as the fish were biting.

He loved to drive and enjoyed traveling, visiting 49 states during his lifetime. Alaska remained on the list of places he had no intention of visiting, explaining that it was simply too damn cold.

Don and Dodie traveled the world together, often accompanied by family and friends. Yet some of their most treasured adventures were the trips taken just the two of them. Yellowstone held a special place in their hearts, and they returned there many times.

Their years in Marco Island, Florida, brought another chapter of adventure. Don loved the warmth so much that he kept his home at a comfortable 79 degrees, lowering it to 78 when guests visited. He purchased an ocean-going boat and took classes so the two of them could enjoy the Gulf waters. The combination of warm weather, open water, and fishing made Florida a fitting home for a man who had never lost his appetite for a new experience.

At home, he enjoyed watching Kansas City Chiefs football and spending afternoons listening to Willie’s Roadhouse. He also enjoyed watching television through YouTube TV and keeping up with family and friends. Although he might not have been the quickest to return a phone call, he genuinely loved receiving calls and texts from the people he cared about.

Don was a quiet man who didn’t seek out the spotlight, yet he seemed to know everyone. He knew their names, where they lived, and what they drove. His memory for people and details was remarkable, and his connections to others ran deeper than his reserved nature might initially suggest.

He was also one of the founding members of the Ooga Booga Gang, a group of lifelong friends who shared decades of laughter, adventures, and memories. Their friendship was a lasting part of his story.

Don was a Past Master of Masonic Lodge Apollo 529 and a member of the Scottish Rite, organizations through which he maintained important connections and friendships.

In the latter part of 2025, Don was diagnosed with kidney cancer. By the middle of 2026, he learned that the cancer had spread. On October 21, 2026, he passed away peacefully in his sleep at home.

While his passing leaves an immeasurable space in the lives of those who loved him, his legacy lives on in the family he raised, the friendships he cherished, the countless things he built, and the memories he leaves behind.

Don’s life was a reminder that brilliance does not always announce itself, that love is often best expressed through the things we do for others, and that a person can accomplish extraordinary things while remaining remarkably humble.

He was a man who could build a guitar, rebuild an engine, design a computer program, or engineer a solution to a seemingly impossible problem. He was a man who traveled the world, cherished his family, loved his Dodie deeply, and remained curious about life until the very end.

Yet if you asked him to describe himself, he wouldn’t tell you about his accomplishments, his career, or his many talents. He would simply tell you he was a country boy who made good.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Children’s in Don’s memory.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him.