John Charles Conn

John Charles Conn was born on August 17, 1949 in Grosse Pointe, MI, the oldest child of Jack and Catherine (Crozier) Conn. On September 19, 2023 John passed away surrounded by his family at his home in Traverse City, MI. Unbeknownst to many, John fought a courageous battle against cancer for the last nine years. John was raised in St. Clair Shores and was a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s of Science and the University of Detroit where he obtained his Masters of Arts. John joined the Michigan State Police as a member of the 79th Recruit school. He served at Erie, Bridgeport, SE CID, Training Division, Fire Marshall, and was head of Traverse Area Narcotics when he retired in 1996 at the rank of D/Lt. John was a member of the first Emergency Support Team that was founded in 1974 by the MSP. John was very proud of his MSP career. John was a smart, humble man with a strong work ethic. He loved his job with the MSP especially arresting the bad guys. He was a patriotic, Christian conservative. He had a wonderful sense of humor. John had so many interests; running, boating, fly fishing, buying cars and motorcycles, biking, skiing, water skiing, hockey, reading, ice skating, snowmobiling, softball, traveling, washing his vehicles, and watching his 5 grandchildren become wonderful humans. John and Linda made friends everywhere they lived and traveled, and John will be missed by so many. John married Linda Bush on June 30, 2000, at the Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park. Their honeymoon was spent fly fishing, rafting, and hiking in Montana and Idaho. John and Linda lived a life of adventure traveling the world. Climbing Machu Picchu, fly fishing, skiing, hiking, camping, biking, and motorcycling. They spent 3 recent winters in Portugal and Spain and many winters in AZ. In July 2019 they were fortunate to spend ten days on The Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho with their entire family including children and grandchildren. Their last trip in February 2023 was to Africa on a photo safari which was John’s favorite trip. John was an avid motorcyclist and traveled to every state in the US, the Artic Ocean, several areas of Canada including Labrador, throughout Europe and New Zealand. In motorcycle jargon he was a member of The Iron Butt Club. His happiest days were spent on motorcycles in the mountains. New Zealand and Italy were two of his favorite rides. John will miss riding his motorcycle with Linda on their many motorcycle adventures and with his motorcycle riding buddies; Jeff Steffel, Jim Downer, Terry Eddy, Darrell Wells and Patrick Lavis. John and Linda always made time for their grandchildren and would never miss a game or event and would drive to the farthest destinations to make sure they were in the stands cheering them on. John is preceded in death by his parents Jack and Catherine Crozier Conn. He was also preceded in death by his dogs Molly and Max. He is survived by his wife Linda, his dog Rocky, his stepchildren James Bush (Lori), Chris Bush (Wendy), and Anne Bauer who he loved as though they were his own children, grandchildren James Bush, Billy Bush (Jill), Cameron (Mitch) Keifer, Jackson (Shelby) Bauer, Brady Bush and one great grandson Gavin Bush, brother Bruce (Kathleen) Conn and sister Coleen (Tom) Dunkle, brother-in-law Rodney (Mary) Hubbard and many nieces and nephews. Memorials in John’s honor can be made to the Thin Blue Line, Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation, or The Women’s Resource Center of Traverse City. A celebration of life is planned at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club on October 29, 2023 from 2-5pm. Please bring your stories and memories. Please feel free to share your thoughts memories with John’s family at his tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

John Charles Conn

August 17, 1949 - September 19, 2023