John H. Dingeman

TRAVERSE CITY - John "Jack" H. Dingeman, of Traverse City Michigan and Key West Florida, died Saturday May 19, 2012 at the age of 77, with his loving family by his side. He was born on July 25, 1934, in Detroit Michigan, the second of three sons to Harry I. and Jean C. Dingeman. A graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, where he particularly enjoyed “messing with cars,” being the varsity football kicker and dreaming up business ideas. He attended St. Joseph's college in Rensselaer Indiana, Saint Phillip Neri Seminary, in Haverhill Massachusetts and served honorably in the U.S. Army. He founded Dingeman Advertising, Inc. in 1958, which became his passion. Over the following 31 years expanding his business by acquiring 32 outdoor advertising companies and constructing thousands of billboards, becoming one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the country by the time he retired in 1989. Jack was also active in real estate development in Michigan, Florida, and the Midwest. In 1960 he married Ruth Erika Lorenz of Heidelberg West Germany. They enjoyed living part time in Germany, where he became better acquainted with Ruth’s family, travelling and making friends throughout Europe, dabbling in business and real estate. With his son Mike at his side and their shared passion for cars, they searched the German country side for that one special old Mercedes. In 1992 he acquired a home in Key West Florida, to escape the Michigan winters, and provide a winter retreat for his family and friends. His affable personality and interest in others, quickly ingratiated him into an active life, including membership at the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea, more friends from Europe, Central and South America. Never content to sit idle and always interested in a project, he and his son Dan developed homes, commercial buildings and acquired a restaurant. He was easily spotted around Key West driving his 1973 VW “Thing,” or upon his cherished “Green Parrot,” promising to sail “just to the sunset and back.” Jack is survived by his two sons, Michael J. Dingeman and Daniel J. (Denine) Dingeman; grandsons Jack and Max Dingeman; granddaughter Hope Dingeman; and his brother R. Paul (Mary Ellen) Dingeman, St. Clair, Michigan; nieces Katie Dingeman Cerda of Irvine California, Monica Anderson of Lansing, Michigan, Iska Gans of Heidelberg Germany and Monica Windisch of Heidelberg Germany; and his former wife Ruth Lorenz Dingeman of Grand Rapids Michigan and Heidelberg Germany. He was predeceased in death by his parents and brother David P. Dingeman. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, May 25, 2012 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father James Hayden presiding. In lieu of flowers, Jack wished that memorials be directed to the Carmelite Monastery or the Father Fred Foundation. Please sign Jack’s online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, MI.

John H. Dingeman

July 25, 1934 - May 19, 2012