MARTIN TOOLIS Obituary

Toolis, Father Martin J. Age of 88, of Ludington, MI passed away peacefully on May 9th, 2015 at Ludington Woods surrounded by his friends. A vigil for Father Toolis will be held on the evening of Tuesday, May 12th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Simon Church, Ludington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Simon Church on May 13th at 11:30 a.m. with Bishop David J. Walkowiak celebrant, and homilist Father Wayne Wheeler. Following the Mass and luncheon, burial will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Pere Marquette Cemetery for family and friends. Father Martin Toolis was born in Chicago, IL, on January 8, 1927, son of the late John and Maude Toolis, natives of Achill Island, Ireland. He and his brothers were members of St. Gabriel's Parish in Chicago, IL. Father Martin is survived by his cousins, Eileen O'Malley, Michael Toolis, and Alice Keane of Chicago, IL. Father Toolis was preceded in death by brothers, James Francis, Thomas, Brother Athanasius, and John Martin Toolis. After graduation from high school, he entered the religious community life by becoming a member of the Christian Brothers. He remained a Christian Brother for 25 years until his entrance into the secular priesthood in 1970. Prior to this time, Father Martin received his Masters of Education along with a counseling degree at Loyola University, De Paul University, and St. Mary's College in Minnesota. He taught at high school, college, and graduate levels. Father served as Associate Pastor at St. Thomas and St. Jude Parishes in Grand Rapids along with St. Patricks in Portland and St. Rita's in Maple City. Other pastoral assignments included St. Mary Cathedral Parish in Gaylord and St. Thomas Parish in Elmira. He was a faculty member of St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan and served as a chaplain at various hospitals and was an Advocate of the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese of Gaylord. Father's final parish where he would eventually retire from in 1991 was Sacred Heart in Victory Township in Ludington, MI. Father deeply touched the lives of so many people. Most important is that Father taught us to 'be patient and wait for the Lord and follow your heart'. He will never be forgotten and forever missed. Donations may be made to Harbor Hospice, 1050 West Western Avenue, Suite 400, Muskegon, MI 49441 or St. Simon Food Pantry, 702 East Bryant Road, Ludington, MI. To share a memory with the family or sign the online register book, please visit www.kingfuneralhome.net King Funeral Home & Cremation Services