St. Charles' Iron Man Alderman Jim Martin dies at 83

For St. Charles residents who watched Jim Martin's political career, they will remember him as the alderman who said "no" more than any other.

But to those who knew Martin best, he is the man who always said "yes" whenever family, friends or service to his community asked for his time.

On Wednesday, Martin ran out of time to give. He died at 83, after several months of declining health.

Martin's life revolved around his family and service to St. Charles, said his son, Steve. Jim Martin attended every city council meeting from 1971 to his retirement in 2015. That meant scheduling vacations and family activities around city council meetings.

Once it even meant ignoring doctor's orders and phoning into a city council meeting while hospitalized with meningitis in 1999 to keep his iron-horse attendance string intact.

"There was no talking him out of it," Steve Martin said. "He insisted to the doctors that he was going to leave the hospital and go to the meeting. They said there was no way. He was deathly ill. So he sent me to the council meeting. And former Mayor Sue Klinkhamer had to hold the telephone microphone up by the speaker so everyone could hear him."

That level of dedication fueled Martin's attendance at 1,031 consecutive Monday-night city council meetings.

Fueled by a disdain for drinking and driving, Martin voted "no" on anything involving or expanding the use of liquor in the city for 30 years.

Martin's deep commitment to city governance left family members a bit concerned when he decided to retire from the city council. But there were no indications Martin became a man without a purpose when he stepped down.

"He said he had done his part and it was time for somebody else," Steve Martin said. "And he adapted pretty well to it. He spent more time with Mom. The whole family got together every Sunday night. Then, in the past year, he's had medical issues."

Jim Martin was a dedicated father to his three sons, Steve, Daniel and Philip. Wiffle ball, softball and baseball were common childhood pastimes among Martin and his sons.

In the late 1960s and early '70s, Martin took an interest in rocketry. Afternoons were spent in a field near Davis Elementary School hurtling rockets toward the stars.

When not with family, he set an example as a 43-year member of the St. Charles Rotary Club, as a founding member of the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary Club, co-chairing the drive to create the city's 708 Mental Health Commission, and spearheading the formation of both The Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Downtown St. Charles Partnership.

Martin also helped create the Greater St. Charles Education Foundation and served on the board of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.

Martin received the Charlemagne Award, St. Charles' citizen of the year recognition, in 2000.

Steve Martin said one of his father's last best memories was watching the Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Jim Martin began as a White Sox fan, often wearing a Sox cap around town when his sons were still boys.

"When the Sox left Channel 9 back in the early '60s, he felt betrayed and became one of us suffering Cubs fans," Steve Martin said. "We'd go to a game every year, either at Wrigley or up in Milwaukee. It was very, very exciting for him when he finally saw them win the Series.

"Just last Sunday, he was talking about how he was looking forward to the start of the season this year. He's not going to see Opening Day, but I think maybe the Cubs will benefit from a little extra help from up above as they try to win again."

Visitation for Martin will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Yurs Family Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles. Memorial contributions may be sent to Lazarus House. More information is available at yursfuneralhomes.com.