John Martin Diebold

John Martin "Marty" Diebold, 84, of Hartford passed away unexpectedly on Friday Jan. 29, 2016, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

Visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, with dinner at the Hartford United Methodist Church 425 E. Main St., Hartford. Family and friends are welcome to leave condolences or share a fond memory of John, online at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com. Memorial donations can be made to American Red Cross.

John was born in South Haven, Dec. 7, 1931, to William and Ella (Quinn) Diebold. He attended Wood School in Bangor Township in his youth and was a 1949 graduate of Bangor High School where he played football, baseball, and also served as class vice president. John served in the Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS Bennington aircraft carrier where he was an aircraft mechanic. Returning to the United States, he worked with dirigibles at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey.

On April 14, 1956, John and Camilla Haight, of Hartford, were united in marriage as the last wedding held in the old Methodist Church on Main Street. They were married nearly 60 years and lived for 56 years at their home on Oak Street in Hartford, where they enjoyed their family, maintaining their pristine lawn, flower gardening, jigsaw puzzles, and just spending time together. He was a volunteer firefighter with the Hartford Fire Department, a little league coach, a proud and avid blood donor and loved to work in his woodshop. He fished about every lake in southwest Michigan, by boat or ice. Following 38 years as an instrument technician with the Watervliet Paper Mill, he retired to spend time with his growing family. John loved genealogy and taught himself to use a computer to research his family history.

John was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his loving wife, "Millie"; one daughter, Deborah (Mark) Lightner of Hartford; and three sons: David Diebold of Portage, Kirk Diebold of Hartford, and Michael (Michelle) Diebold of Vicksburg; five grandchildren: Christie (Greg) Boxer, Jeff (Maggie) Fitzgerald, Steven Matthews, Adam Diebold and Sydney Diebold; along with four great-grandchildren: Hannah Matthews, Benjamin Boxer, Katelyn and Holly Fitzgerald. John is also survived by a son-in-law, Dennis Matthews of Coloma; and one sister, Mary Hodge of Hesperia, Mich.

He was preceded in passing by his daughter, Linda Matthews, on Jan. 12, 2016; as well as his parents; and four brothers: Bill, Jack, Eugene and Paul Diebold.