John Edwin Lewis

John Lewis, 90, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2018 at Grand Traverse Pavilions where he had been a resident since November. He is survived by children Tim Lewis (June) of Marshall, MI; Kathleen Franklin (Michael) of Traverse City, MI; and Elizabeth Blondia (Joseph) of Maple City, MI, as well as a brother, William (Helen) Lewis of Stowe, Vermont. Surviving grandchildren are Kyle (Broek) and Sarah Lewis, Matthew, Isaac, and Daniel Franklin, and Kathleen (Kate) and James (Jamie) Blondia. Also surviving are two great-grandsons, Karson and Jase Lewis, as well as several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Beebe Lewis in January 2018, his parents Donald and Evelyn (Vickers) Lewis, a sister Eleanor (Happy) Jones, and a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Lewis. John grew up in Marshall, MI and graduated from Marshall High School in 1945, upon which he joined the United States Navy, serving from 1945-1946. He attended Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University) and worked as an accountant, office manager, and before retirement, Payroll Personnel Director of Union City Community Schools. He married Ruth Potter of Marshall in 1953. That marriage ended in divorce. He married Elizabeth Jo Beebe at Central Methodist Church in Muskegon on June 16, 1962. While living in Marshall, he was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where he had sung in the choir since he was a boy, served as an acolyte, as Treasurer, and as Senior Warden on the Vestry. He and Betty were very active in the Marshall Civic Players, having produced many plays. John acted in some 50 plays in community theater, and several in environmental and professional theater. He had been a member of the Exchange Club. He and Betty were two of the co-founders of the Marshall Area Community Services. He and Betty moved to Traverse City in 1993, and both became active in the community and at Grace Episcopal Church. Both sang in the choir, and John was very active in church outreach activities such as Episcopal Peace Fellowship, the food pantry, Jubilee House, and the Men’s Group. He walked for many years in the MS and Crop Walks with family and church members. He had been active in the Traverse Group of the Sierra Club, leading several outings. He was a charter member of Veterans for Peace Chapter 50, serving as President and Secretary, and a scholarship in his name was created by that organization. He was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union as an Unsung Hero for Social Justice. John loved hiking and backpacking in his younger years, and for several years was the Dean of the Porcupine Lodge Seminars, a backpacking group of four friends. He and Betty loved to travel, and had visited Alaska, England, Scotland, and many times to their beloved Stratford, Ontario. He was proud of rarely having an overdue library book, was always the first to point out incorrect grammar or punctuation, and religiously completed the crossword puzzles in the Detroit Free Press, even up to the last few weeks of his life. He was also a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan. According to John, his intelligent wit and charm “made him better than most people” but with his big heart and wonderful sense of humor, everyone always knew he was kidding. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who was the happiest when spending time with friends and family. A memorial service celebrating John’s life will be held on Monday, June 11 at noon, with visitation and greetings from 10am - noon at Grace Episcopal Church. Memorial contributions may be directed to Marshall Civic Players, Veterans for Peace Chapter 50, or Grace Episcopal Church-Jubilee House.

John Edwin Lewis

June 20, 1927 - May 21, 2018