After 85 years of a life filled with marvelous memories, experiences, and friendships, John B. Beers Sr. peacefully passed away after a brief illness, surrounded by his wife and children at his Traverse City home. John and Dorothy Beers celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary this past November in Traverse City with their seven children and their spouses, in what has become an annual family tradition known as, "The John & Dorothy Beers Anniversary Pub Crawl."

John and Dorothy raised their seven children downstate in Dearborn, where John worked and twice retired from The Ford Motor Company, after more than 50 years of working in the scientific-research labs. His first retirement was in 1986, and then John was rehired after Ford Motor realized they had retired their one and only glassblower. John liked to joke that "Ford only has one C.E.O. and only one glassblower….guess which one I am!" His second retirement occurred in 2006, allowing John time to join the Traverse City Kiwanis Club and travel to their winter home in Arizona.

His glassblowing skills and artistic flair were developed at Greenfield Village in Dearborn as a young man, where John demonstrated the craft, entertaining tourists from around the world. He appeared in the July 1958 National Geographic magazine in an article profiling Greenfield Village. He has created hand-blown Christmas tree ornaments that have become collectables for generations of families, and his work was selected to decorate the official White House tree. His glassblowing work at Ford included collaborating with engineers to design and build scientific apparatus, used in research projects ranging from air quality control to space exploration. John continued to work from a home studio crafting Christmas tree ornaments after retiring.

Moving to Traverse City in 1987, John became the unofficial ambassador of the "Greater Grand Traverse Tourist and Visitor's Bureau." He loved to introduce his family and friends to the area's scenic attractions, the specialty shops, restaurants, and of course, the pubs. John's guests could be assured they were about to experience Downtown TC John's way, by walking. Walking wasn't just John's passion, it was his greatest love after his first love Dorothy, as walking afforded him the opportunity to share stories and talk with acquaintances and strangers alike. A simple trip to the corner store could consume an entire afternoon. An ideal day was for John to meet with his walking club buddies at the Building 50 complex, converse over coffee after a brisk walk, and conclude his day with Dorothy with a meal or beverage at their favorite TC restaurant, the Amical.

Having eight great-grandchildren, twenty grandchildren, and seven children, John & Dorothy were constantly busy entertaining or traveling to family celebrations, graduations, weddings, and baby showers. The Beers' children are: oldest son John Beers Jr. (Rory) of South Haven; oldest daughter Sue Jaquette (Tom) of Olivet; Patty Gregory (Russ) of Northville; Claudia Feeny (Paul) of Charlotte; Jeff Beers of Charlotte; Jay Beers (Tracy) of Traverse City; and Kris Beers (Jennifer) of Livonia.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Sunday, May 18th at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City beginning at 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., with a brief Memorial Service beginning at 1 p.m.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions be made in John's name to the Kiwanis Club of Traverse City (Attention Secretary, Kiwanis Club of Traverse City Foundation, P.O. Box 864, Traverse City, MI 49685).