Ivan Felix Martinez

Ivan Felix Martinez (86), May 5, 1934 – February 25, 2021, born in Ponce, Puerto Rico to Francisca Felix and Jesús Martinez. Ivan was married (55 years) to Catalina "Tani" Bernard Martinez with a family of four children. Ivan & Catalina’s children, William (Minerva), and preceded by Magdalena 2018 (Alberto), Haydee Krepps 2011 (Tony), and Ivan Jr. 2017. Ivan and Catalina had seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

Ivan worked and retired from General Motors after 25 years, and worked part-time for the City of Pontiac, alongside his son Willie at the Howard Dell Community Center.

Papi (Dad) was a loving, kind, humorous, and giving person, who loved his entire family. Papi had a heart for helping, giving, and providing wisdom to many he came in contact. Ivan and Catalina opened their house to many family members seeking a better way of life from Puerto Rico in Pontiac, Michigan. Ivan recommitted his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, all the glory to the Lord for His MERCY, GRACE, AND LOVE.

My hero and loving Papi will also be remembered for the love he had for his wife and children. My dad was loved by his family, but he also will be remembered for the many teams he played with in baseball and softball. Teams like Pontiac Giants, Clippers, LAO, Juana Diaz, Conn Clothes, Mutualista Club, Senior Olympics Team, Nothdurft, Roy’s White, Cornwall Plumbing, Construction Fasteners Incorporated and many, many more teams.

“Chico” or “old man”, was what some young players would call Ivan. There was a price to pay for those that called him “old man”. That price was either being thrown out with his strong arm, having to go chase a ball he just hit over your head for playing too close, challenging Ivan to hit the ball down the lines, or if the defense miss played the ball, he would take that extra base on you. Though they called him “old man” it was with the utmost respect. Ivan was well respected throughout the baseball/softball community.

Ivan won two national championships, numerous league championships, numerous tournament championships, and selected many times as the Most Valuable Player in competition. Ivan was also honored with having a MVP Trophy named after him to be awarded to the MVP of the “Annual Santo Sanchez Softball Tournament”. Ivan not only played, but he also umpired as an ASA Softball Umpire in numerous leagues throughout Oakland County.

I want to extend my gratitude to each of you for your prayers, calls expressing your memories and how much Ivan impacted your life. To hear your stories, the profound love, and how grateful you were to my dad. THANK YOU!! Please share your stories with me as I no longer have my father, mother, sisters, or brother. Post them on Spark Griffin Funeral Home website. This will allow me to go back to each obituary of my parents and siblings, and read your memories of experiences you had with each of them.

Special thank you to the director of Steele’s Family Funeral Services in Winter Haven Florida, Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home in Pontiac, Michigan and The First Spanish American Baptist Church in Pontiac. God bless each of you and your families. My family and friends consider the following scriptures today.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 11am at Perry Mount Park Cemetery.