Dr. Martin Richard Kane's Obituary
Dr. Martin Richard Kane, a man with a strong legacy, died unexpectedly November 13, 2025, because of an acute medical complication. Born on March 14, 1954, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Leonard & Marian (Lynner) Kane, he was the fourth of six siblings (Pat, Karl, Kandy, Brian, & Diane). They lived in Nashville, MI on Thornapple Lake where he spent much influential time in his formative years with his grandfather, Edwin Kane. His siblings remember Marty as a happy-go-lucky child who loved cars, roller-skating, swimming in the lake, and was a definite “morning person.” He has claimed he would put his swimsuit on the first day of summer break and take it off the day before school in the fall.
Marty thanked his kindergarten teacher Mrs. Mater, for printing, “Responsibility,” on the board and leaving it there all year; it was a guiding principle of his life, along with his integrity and kindness to everyone he met.
At his 50th high school class reunion Marty remarked humorously that he thought he knew everything when he graduated from Maple Valley High School in Vermontville, MI (1972)-until that is, he met his U.S. Navy bootcamp drill instructor.
In the Navy, Marty met his lifelong best friend, Mark Zwolinski, applied his capacity for learning complex computer systems, and learned how to lead people through his beloved friend and division head, Chief Tom Mumpower. Over an enlightening 6-year Navy career with these and other friends like Dana Wilt, Martin saw and experienced the world: Norfolk, VA, Brazil, Morocco, Ghana, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Barbados, Cuba, and more, preparing for then serving on the then newly commissioned USS Spruance (DD-963).
He met Cheryl Barton in the summer of 1977 and asked her to marry him after the second date. They married January 13, 1979, in Nashville, MI, in the biggest snowstorm in one hundred years. For 46 years they used their relationship and community service to pursue knowledge, help improve the lives of others, and weather life’s storms with tenacity, humor, and love. Generally referred to by friends and neighbors not as just individuals but a unit, “Marty and Cheryl,” in recognition of their tight bond and dedication to each other.
After the Navy, Martin worked for Burroughs across Southwestern MI for four years, followed Cheryl in her career, transferring with Burroughs to work all over Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas for three more years. When her career moved them back to Michigan, Marty was ready for a new challenge; at 33 years old he applied to Michigan State University where he phenomenally and contiguously completed three degrees in Civil Engineering, specializing in Transportation (B.S. 1990; M.S. 1991;, Ph.D. 1995). He fondly remembered and applied the lessons learned from caring faculty, Dr. Rick Lyles and Dr. Tom Maleck, who guided his education there to be an excellent engineer and the terrific teacher he himself would become.
He became a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) and was active in his profession over his entire career through Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC) serving in all executive roles and on the PENC Executive Committee.
In July 1995 Martin joined the Civil Engineering Department at University North Carolina at Charlotte, where he discovered his passion for teaching. He was also the department’s Undergraduate Director for 12 years, helping to develop and initiate progressive programs and standards to advance the quality of teaching and the department’s reputation for producing highly competent engineers.
Dedicated to the University’s purpose, goals, and values, he served tirelessly as an active member of his department and on innumerable committees across campus with faculty who became treasured friends such as Dr. Shen-En Chen and Dr. Kimberly Buch. His unquestioned integrity was often the impetus to engage his assistance to tackle problems and projects which required vigilance, diplomacy, and respect for all involved.
“Always put the students first!” “Find joy in what you do!” “Serve humanity!” He practiced these personal philosophies for 27 years teaching thousands of students and sixteen different courses. He was known for getting to know his students as individuals, having infinite patience, helping make complex subjects understandable, being an excellent listener, and holding standards high while still being ever-present anytime to help them complete their degree requirements, become a Professional Engineer, and an ethical, responsible, happy person.
“Teaching is the best job I’ve ever had.” “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
He took groups of students to Spain for a 7-week study abroad program, three years in a row. He was a faculty representative in the then-inaugural Levine Scholars Program Advisory Committee. The student chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers honored him by creating the Dr. Martin Kane Student Inspiration Award. He sponsored students to attend the North Carolina Society of Women Engineers State Conference, helping to kick-start their educational and professional pursuits. He received the 2016 William States Lee College of Engineering award for Best Undergraduate Teaching. He developed and ran the department’s CAMMSE’ summer camp for high school students 2018-2022.
One Civil Engineering department chair said that over the years no matter where they went in the engineering community if he mentioned he was from UNC Charlotte, Marty’s name was the faculty most mentioned with admiration and appreciation because of the positive influence he had made on the future engineers he taught. Martin’s students were involved with the design and development of many regional streets, intersections, highways and overpasses and he would point these out with pride to whomever was in the car as they traveled the area.
A major stroke in April 2016 brought significant personal challenges every day for the rest of his life. These would have crushed and demoralized an ordinary person. But not Marty. His unrelenting efforts at rehabilitation were an example of fortitude and perseverance to everyone who knew and worked with him. And he never, ever complained to anyone.
His humor carried him through. As he learned to walk again, he would say, “If I knew I’d have to do this again, I’d have paid better attention the first time I learned to walk.” When first learning to use a cane to walk (before he had been trained how) he fell into a hedgerow of prickly Holly; as he explained his day to friends, “Today I got to study some plants up-close and to meet some helpful new people.” He inspired all of us as he set an astonishing example of how to overcome adversity with dignity and joy.
His drive to continually expand and retain his stroke recovery was a result of many caring people. Such as the four years of dedicated personalized professional in-home assistance by Mrs. Barbara Wissbaum (Senior Helpers). And to this day by several friends, particularly his steadfast fans, Ms. Lori McAllister (Lansing, MI), Mr. Jim Kiefer (Elk Rapids, MI), and Mr.& Mrs. Randy (Darlynn) Snow (Galesburg, MI).
Marty was an amazingly wonderful husband, steadfast friend, anchor, and protector to Cheryl.
We are all shocked at his death. We deeply mourn his loss in our lives. But we are inexpressibly thankful he was a part of our lives. May we let his legacy stay alive by mimicking his strength and perseverance in the challenges of life. In his honor may we strive to be as kind and gentle to others as he always was, regardless of circumstances. And may the memory of his brilliant big smile buoy our spirits every day.
Martin leaves behind a loving wife, one brother, three sisters, many nephews, grandnieces & grandnephews, innumerable friends and colleagues, and his former students whom he cherished.
Services will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at James Funeral Home:
1:00-2:00pm Visitation
2:00-3:00pm Celebration of Life
3:00-4:30pm Visitation
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In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Martin, please know he would invite you to do so by donating in his memory to :
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Michigan Capital Region of Lansing, Michigan
a. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/giveagifttoday/
b. If preferred, donations may also be mailed to: Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region 405 W. Greenlawn Ave Suite 400B Lansing, MI 48910
Maple Valley Memorial Scholarship Foundation
(Marty’s high school; fund started 30 years ago by teachers at the school)
Donate By internet Maple Valley Memorial Scholarship Foundation
By mail: MVMSF, PO Box 715, Nashville, MI 49073
Lansing’s Bridge to Recovery (Serving Ashe County, NC)
Donate to Lansing’s Bridge to Recovery https://www.lansingbtr.org/
At this site, on the first ‘click’ there is a box to check, “Write us a comment” to note the donation in Martin’s honor if you wish."
Online memories and condolences may be shared at https://www.JamesFuneralHomeLKN.com
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