Roy Martinson Obituary

Roy H. Martinson, 83, father of a Plainfield resident and a former Plainfield business owner, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Rosewood Care Center, Rockford.

He was born Aug. 31, 1927, in Oak Park, the son of Leo and Myrtle (Bergeson) Martinson.

Roy lived in Chicago until his early teen years and moved to Malta to work on his uncle Ludd Almburg's farm. Graduated from Malta High School and began his early career as a farmer in northern Ill. counties.

His next career move was opening Roy's Go-Tane in Plainfield in 1968. In 1980 to date, his son Charles (Chuck/Charlie) became a business partner and they opened Shorewood Gas in Shorewood.

Charlie and Roy then opened R & C Liquors in Shorewood and bought a gas station on Broadway in Joliet, which eventually became Martinson Tire. Roy and Charlie received recognition from the city of Joliet for their updating and beautification of the Broadway property.

Also, during the 1970s Roy owned Plainfield Road Laundromat. In addition he had a side business of plowing snow in the winter and also chopping and delivering firewood.

He is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Ken) Paulson of Rockford, his son Charles (Christine) Martinson of Plainfield; their children, Cassie Martinson, Michael (Jennifer) Scott, Kimberly and Mark Tibble, their grandchildren, Michael, Katey, Ryan, Jacob and Ellyn Tibble Drew Popovich and Marissa Gutierrez; sister Dorothy Cobe of Huntley; brother Ralph (Dorothy) Martinson of Prospect Heights; and Tim Bilodeau of Rockford, Kathy's son; and many cousins, nieces, nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; ex-wife/friend Kathy; and infant daughter, Debra Jean; brother-in-Law, Ken Cobe; and good friend, Vernon Thuestad of Kingston.

Also predeceased in death by his dachshund babies; Charley, Buster, and Mitzi. Also, Dad's big boy and buddy from the Plainfield Go-Tane days, Timmy.

Always a man with few loud words, a great sense of humor with a hearty laugh and never shy with the ladies. When Roy entered the room everyone knew it. He leaves his children with a sense of humor, entrepreneurship and a great work ethic.

Funeral service will be held at 2:30pm Wednesday, August 31 at Anderson Funeral Home, 2011 S. 4th St., DeKalb, with the Rev. Ray Krueger of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be from 12 noon until services at 2:30pm. Interment will follow services at Fairview Park Cemetery, DeKalb.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in Roy's name to your local no-kill animal shelter, Hospice Passages, 929 S. Alpine Rd., Suite 202, Rockford, IL 61108 or American Cancer Society earmarked for Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma research.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Pundaleeka, Tasha and the nurses at JOHA, the Nurses, CNA's, and Mel in the kitchen at Rosewood Care Center and Passages Hospice LLC.

For information: www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or 815-756-1022.