Martin John Sims
Calera

Martin John Sims, age 73, of Calera, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather began his next journey of life at 5:49 p.m., Thursday, July 2, after multiple complications from open heart surgery dating back to May 4, 2015.
Martin was born August 24, 1941 to the late Carl W. and Evelyn Rose Nowak Sims. He was predeceased by his siblings – sister, Cynthia Sims Goffinet, of Brook, Ind.; and brothers, Carl W. Sims, Jr. and Phillip Sims, both of Gary, Ind.
Marty attended Gary Emerson High School, where he excelled at playing football and was once offered a scholarship to Iowa State University. After graduation, however; he decided to enlist with the United States Marine Corps and attended basic training in Camp Pendalton, San Diego, Calif. While he served in the Marines 1960-1964, he was on duty in Key West, Fla., where he once served as a personal body guard to President Harry S. Truman.
He married the love of his life, Carol Jean Cozmanoff Sims of Merrillville, Ind., on August 21, 1965. He loved her more than any man should love his wife, they were so blessed to have had one another for 49 years, 50 in August.
After the Marines, Martin held such jobs as supervisor at U.S. Steel in Gary, Ind., store manager at Lee’s Chicken, Alabaster, and Blue Circle, Calera, until he retired due to disability in 1988.
Martin was an active member of Wilsonville UMC and the Wilsonville Civitans. He learned to enjoy life, loved his country, the Marine Corps, Notre Dame Football and to play golf, but his greatest pleasure was to spend time with his family. He loved his family immensely.
His survivors include his wife, Carol Sims, Calera; daughter, Melissa Sims Hall (Greg) of Columbiana; son, James Sims (Angela) of Cusseta, Ga.; grandchildren, Douglas Sims (Devin) of Calera, Shanae and Makayla Hall of Columbiana, and Richard and Sarah Sims of Cusseta, Ga.; and great grandchildren, Aubri, Dalton and Braxton Sims of Calera. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, July 6, at Wilsonville United Methodist Church.
Charter Funeral Home directing.