Martin H. Andres

Martin Harold Andres, age 74, passed away peacefully in his home under the loving care of his family on February 8th, 2025.

Martin was born September 29th, 1950, to Harold Henry Andres and Alta Florence Andres, née Heppe. He grew up in Belding, Michigan alongside his older brother Samuel and younger brother David. He enjoyed baseball throughout his early years, playing at the Pee Wee, Little League, high school, and college levels. He graduated from Belding High School in 1969. 

Following one-and-a-half years at Montcalm Community College, Martin received a draft notice in January 1971. He was inducted into the United States Army on February 17th, 1971, and served one year in the United States and eleven months in Vietnam with the 129th Assault Helicopter Company.

In the middle of August 1971, Martin was driving mail back to his compound when he heard gunshots. He knew instantly it was not friendly fire. The Viet Cong shot out three tires on the driver side of his truck. Martin shared “If those bullets would have hit and killed me, I would be in hell because I wasn’t saved yet.” He had attended Smyrna Bible Church off and on and played on the church softball team, but he wasn’t really saved.

God pressed on Martin’s heart two months later as he read a Bible he had been gifted. On October 19th, 1972, Martin had one guard threaten him because he didn’t want to go on duty. The guard was a drug addict, and Martin was afraid of how the addict might act. As he sat in the mail orderly room, Martin bowed his head and prayed, admitting he was a sinner, and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his heart and save him. “God used that person on dope to bring me to Him.”

For his service, Martin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960– Device, Rifle Sharpshooter Badge, M-79 Sharpshooter Badge, and one Overseas Service Bar.

After returning from Vietnam in January 1973, Martin finished his degree at Montcalm Community College and then studied missions at the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music (now absorbed by Cornerstone University), graduating in 1977. It was during this time when he started corresponding with his wife-to-be, Melody.

Martin and Melody married at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California on June 17th, 1978. They had five children together: Daniel, Hannah, Esther, Charity, and Naomi. 

Martin’s roles in ministry following graduation were serving as a county director for Child Evangelism Fellowship, a missionary appointee for Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission, and pastor of Kilbourne Baptist Church in Kilbourne, Illinois. His passion became reaching children for the Lord.

In January 1993, Martin suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. He was in the hospital for six weeks and was not supposed to survive, but he recovered and continued in his passion for reaching children, whether through Child Evangelism Fellowship, AWANA, or Sunday school, serving selflessly at Smyrna Bible Church in Smyrna, Faith Baptist Church in Greenville, and West Cannon Baptist Church in Belmont.

Martin is preceded in death by his parents, nephew Eric Andres, father-in-law Frederick Schambers, and mother-in-law Beverly Schambers.

He is survived by his beautiful wife Melody, children Daniel (Nicole) Andres of Manassas, Virginia; Hannah (Garrett) O’Hara of Fort Worth, Texas; Esther Andres of Belding, Michigan, Charity (John) Day of Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan; Naomi (Nathaniel) Miller of Belding, Michigan; eight grandchildren Logan, Zander, Aletheia, Audrey, Malachi, Gwendolyn, Winston, and Estella; brothers Sam (Mary) Andres of Greenville, Michigan and Dave (Diane) Andres of Belding, Michigan; his aunt Lorna Ehlert of Orleans, Michigan; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 14th, 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m., at Verdun Funeral Home, 303 S. Bridge St., Belding, Michigan. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, February 15th, at 10:30 a.m. at West Cannon Baptist Church, 5760 Cannonsburg Rd NE, Belmont, Michigan. Private interment will follow at Otisco Cemetery in Belding.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to honor Martin’s passion for teaching children about Christ and honoring veterans with a memorial contribution. Donations are recommended to Child Evangelism Fellowship—directed to the ministry of Fodi Hanna in Israel—or to Denny Craycraft Veterans Freedom Park in Belding. Memorial donation envelopes and additional information are available by contacting Verdun Funeral Home at (616) 794-1300 or at www.verdunfh.com.