Martin J. "Marty" Fruin

Martin J. “Marty” Fruin, 69, of Battle Creek, passed away July 18, 2026, surrounded by his family. Marty was born January 16, 1957 in Battle Creek to James and Barbara (Bridenstein) Fruin. Shortly after high school, Marty went to work for the Kellogg Company in 1976. A “lifer” at Kellogg’s, he worked in the packaging department his whole career before retiring in 2019.

Marty married the former Mary Jo Tuyls on November 14, 1981. The couple enjoyed 44 years of marriage until her passing in 2021. Marty is also preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Judith Fruin.

Marty is survived by his children, Amber (James) Wetherill, Christopher (Stephanie) Fruin, Jonathon (Sara) Chilton and Macey Kintigh; grandchildren, Kaylee, Kaycie, Mykhalia, Zoey, Averie, Oliver, Mykenzie, Isabella, Clark and two great grandchildren (with one on the way); two sisters, Gerrie (John) Hollingshead and Carol Kuhlman and many nieces and nephews.

Marty enjoyed mowing, working in his yard, being on any body of water and watching wrestling. He was a softball coach who enjoyed helping build a traveling softball program and was a Sci-Fi movie junkie. Marty had a great sense of humor and loved to irritate his wife to no end and had very little filter. His two main passions in life were Sci-Fi and spending time with his grandchildren. He was often referred to as a “professional babysitter.” Marty will now be reunited with the love of his life whom he loved "forever and a day." Their forever begins now.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, where funeral services to celebrate Marty’s life will be held Friday, July 24 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Hicks Cemetery, Pennfield Township. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.