Obituary of Joseph V. Martin

Joseph Van Syckel Martin, Jr, 95 of the Van Syckel-Norton section, passed away on September 3, 2015 at Country Arch Center after a long illness. Born on July 22, 1920, son of the late Joseph Van Syckel Martin and Ellen Elizabeth Stevenson Martin, and he lived his entire life on the family farm. He was educated in the Norton one room school and the Clinton High School, Class of 1937. He was a descendant of the early Dutch Van Syckel family living in Hunterdon County and Syckel's for over three hundred years. Joe was a self employed mason contractor for more than forty years and established the Perryville Package Store, which he operated for over twenty years. A member of the Union Township planning board and the township committee he served as Mayor for six of his eighteen years on the township committee. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his brothers John and Thomas, step-mother Grace Hansen Henderson Martin as well as his first wife Marie Smith Martin. Survivors include his wife Violet Choram Martin and daughters Sandra Trstensky, Lynn McCoobery and Beverly Murillo. Joe is also survived by 3 granddaughters, 4 great granddaughters,3 great great granddaughters and one great great grandson. He is also survived by his sister Katharine Martin, brother Douglas Martin, Step-sons Paul and Mark Ameer, Step sister Elizabeth Heft and step grandchildren, step- brothers, Richard and William Henderson as well as many nieces and nephews. Joe was a member and Past Master of the former Lebanon Lodge number 6 F and AM at Glen Gardner. An avid baseball player, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing and collecting native American artifacts from the local area and other historical artifacts for the local historical museums of which he was a member. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday September 8, 2015 from 3:00pm until 7:00pm at the Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31, Clinton NJ 08809. A service will be held after the calling hours at 7:00pm at the funeral home. Interment services will take place privately at Bethlehem Baptist Graveyard in Union Twp at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations in Joe's memory may be made to the Pattenburg Fire and Rescue Squad or to the Hunterdon Hospice. For more information or to share memories of Joe please visit www.martinfh.com