TRAVERSE CITY — John Duane Stephan, 65 of Traverse City, passed away on April 19, 2012, at Munson Medical Center. His nurse, Kristi, said that she could see that he was loved because she had never seen a room that full of loved ones. He passed to the sounds of joking and laughing while his family and friends told jokes and funny stories of times past.John was born on Dec. 3, 1946, in Reed City. He was the proud son of William "Jack" and Beverly Ann (Elkins) Humphrey. On Oct. 24, 1970, he married the love of his life, Doris Elaine Day, in Mancelona. Together they lovingly raised six wonderful children.John served in the U.S. Army from January 1966 until December 1968. He was a Medical Specialist in the Vietnam War and received the following decorations, medals and badges: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert Medical Badge and the Marksman Badge.John's family was the most important thing to him. All he ever wanted was to have a big family; that is exactly what he had. His most cherished times were when all of his children were home filling the house with laughter and craziness. Those who new the Stephans well knew that when the kids were home the environment was charged with high energy and boisterous laughter. The Stephan clan has always been and will continue to be a force of nature. Wherever they go, they fill the room and embrace life. John always made the friends of his children feel like they were "part of the family". He tried to always make them feel "uncomfortably comfortable" with jokes and genuine interest in them as individuals. He loved to tease his kids in front of friends to get the room laughing.John was also an avid reader. He was a perpetual student of knowledge, constantly adding to his wide range of knowledge in the Bible, accounting and other financial and real estate matters. One of his favorite things to do in his early years was to purchase "fixer upper" homes to fix up and sell. The whole family participated (sometimes begrudgingly), and many memories where made during these projects.Surviving John is his family; wife, Doris; children, Sarah (Michael) Stephan-Brown, Jason Stephan, Matthew Stephan, David (Mellisa Crawford and daughter, Haley) Stephan and Rachel (Brandon) Thomann; a grandchild on the way, Elizabeth (Aaron) Knorr; his dog child, Buddy; siblings, Susan (Roger) Schaub and Linda Stephan; other loving family members, Rebecca (Steve) Kumar, Madison Kumar and Mckenna (Kumar); and many loving friends. John was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Margaret Fleet; and step father-in-law, Lloyd Fleet.A graveside service will be held at noon on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens, with the Cherryland VFW Post 2780 serving as Honor Guard. A luncheon will follow at the VFW hall across the street.Memorials may be given to John's family, checks payable to Doris Stephan, c/o Reynolds-Jonkhoff, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.Please sign John's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .