The Hon. Martin E. Clements, age 87, of Lake Orion, Michigan, formally of Detroit and Lapeer, Michigan, passed away on June 1, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.
Son of Martin and Mary (Mitchell) Clements, Marty was born on May 17, 1938. He grew up in Detroit where he graduated from the University of Detroit High School, University of Detroit with a BA, and University of Detroit Law School – all Jesuit Educational institutions. He would say, “He was Jesuitical.” He was in the US Army Reserves and served at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
He married Mary Ellen (nee Broughton), the love of his life, on May 2, 1964, in St. Clair Shores, MI. They recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.
Marty practiced law in Orchard Lake and went to Lapeer, MI where he was appointed prosecuting attorney by the Circuit Court bench. In 1979 he was appointed 40th Circuit Court Judge by Governor William Milliken, which at the time was the youngest sitting judge at the age of thirty-six and served until his retirement 23 years later. He continued working part time as a visiting judge for several more years. He loved the law and working with the public and attorneys. He was past president of the Lapeer County Bar Association, member of the Michigan Bar Association, and the Michigan Judges Association. He was the founder of the Lapeer Police Intelligence Unit, initiated the Circuit Court Family Counseling Program, the Community Service Program, and the Pre-trial Telephone Conferences. Judge Clements was a co-founder of the Lapeer Community Schools High School Mock Trial Program. He was awarded Boss of the Year by the Lapeer Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1996. He taught at Cooley Law School as an adjunct professor.
Always an avid golfer, Marty and Mary Ellen became snowbirds in retirement and lived half the year in Naples, Florida for over 20 years. They traveled extensively the world including Hawaii, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. He participated in his local ROMEO club-retired old men eating out, playing bridge, and other Naples Heritage Club events. He was a voracious reader, especially mysteries and crime novels. A Tiger baseball fan since childhood; he would watch games from outside Tiger Stadium on Trumball. He spent many New Year’s Eves at the Red Wings Games. He enjoyed several years of boating on the Great Lakes and had a passion for watching Jeopardy on television. Marty loved telling jokes and always had a way of making people laugh.
While in Lapeer, Marty attended Immaculate Conception Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. After moving to Lake Orion to be closer to his grandchildren, he became a member of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. He even had the honor of officiating the marriage of his granddaughter, Kirsten, during Covid.
He is the dear father of Lisa (Michael) Bjork of Lake Orion, Michael (Leslie) Clements of Lake Orion, and Kevin (Linda) Clements of Boyne City, MI. Grandfather to Nathan (Mikayla) Bjork of Albuquerque, NM, Kirsten (Zachary) Blomberg of Waterford, Brandon (Elizabeth) Clements of Grand Rapids, and Courtney (Brad) Easley of Hoover, AL. Great-grandfather to Axel, Barrett, Carter, and Dixie.
Martin was preceded in death by his parents and siblings John (Joyce) Clements, Patrick Clements, and Mariane (Joseph) DeLaurence, and great granddaughter, Charlotte Blomberg. In addition, he is survived by his sisters-in-law, Phyllis Clements and Lorraine (Broughton) Kilcoyne, and many nieces and nephews.
Those wishing to make charitable donations in Martin’s memory, please do so to the American Diabetes Foundation, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or Paradise Animal Rescue in Lapeer.
Visitation will be held at Modetz Funeral Home Silverbell Chapel at 100 E. Silverbell Rd, Orion on Wednesday, June 4th from 3-8 p.m. with Sharing Time at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church at 2700 Waldon Rd, Lake Orion, MI at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 5 with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Online tributes may be shared at www.modetzfuneralhomes.com.
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