John J. Martinelli Sr.

John J. Martinelli Sr., age 72, of New Philadelphia, passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in his home following a courageous battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Born May 15, 1949 in Dover, he was a son of the late Angelo D. and Ada Walker Martinelli. John graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1967, and, on October 12, 1968, married the former Jill Russell, who survives. He entered the United States Army during the Vietnam War, serving in Ansbach Germany, where he attained the rank of sergeant and was an instructor for the MGR-1 Honest John rocket. Once, while in Germany, John thwarted a lion attack, preventing serious injury or worse, when a big cat got ahold of a young zookeeper’s assistant.

He was a hard worker and was employed his entire life, except for his service time, in construction industry. John began working as a boy with his father and brothers at Martinelli Construction, and finished his career as a poolsmith at Martinelli-White Pools, a business founded by his family.

John was a member of Sacred Heart Church in New Philadelphia; the Catholic Order of Foresters; the New Philadelphia post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Dellroy post of the American Legion. He had a passion for auto racing and demolition derbies. Many fun and exciting times were had over the years traveling to races with his family in which he participated as well as derbies at the Tuscarawas County Fair.

In addition to his loving wife, Jill, John is survived by his children, Leslie (Ryan) Roney of New Philadelphia, and John “Joseph” or “Joe” Martinelli of Canton; his much-loved granddaughter, Adan Roney; his siblings, Gene (Martha) and Mike (Debbie) Martinelli, and Patricia “Pat” Finley, all of New Philadelphia; his mother-in-law, Alice Lintz Russell; his very special aunts, Carmie Martinelli and Irene Walker; and his many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother, James Martinelli; his brother-in-law, Dave Finley; and his great-nephew, Zachary Frantz.

A memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, May 25, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, May 26, at 11 a.m., in Sacred Heart Church, where family and friends will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow, with military rites, in Sacred Heart Calvary Cemetery.

Contributions in John’s memory are suggested to the Zachary Frantz Memorial Leadership Scholarship, ℅ The Quaker Foundation, P.O. Box 627, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.