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John "Jack" Thomas McAlear
Born: 10/15/1935
Died: 10/8/2021
Age: 85
Community: Flushing, MI
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McAlear, John, formerly of Bay City and Lansing, died Friday, October 8, 2021, at his sister’s home in Flushing after a short illness. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at Rossell Funeral Home in Flushing. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 12 noon on Wednesday until the time of the service at 1 p.m. A private inurnment will take place at a later date at Great Lakes National Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, 3115 Lawndale Ave. Flint, 48504 http://www.st.lukenewlife.com.
John was born in Highland Park, Michigan on October 15, 1935, the fourth born of six children to Charles and Margaret (Ray) McAlear. After graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Bay City, he spent several years in the Franciscan Community, which he left in 1955. Six months later, he was a member of the 78th Battalion posted to McKee Barracks in Crailsheim, Germany, where he became a Sergeant in charge of the land survey. Before leaving the military in 1960, he and his survey crew demonstrated its advanced techniques for all of NATO.
John was in the last class of Bay City Junior College and the first class at Delta College. He was also enrolled in the first class of the newly established Classical Studies Program at Michigan State University. While completing his education at MSU, he worked in museum storage in areas below Spartan Stadium. To augment his income, John was a Docent for the Pere Marquette Locomotive 1255 (the star of the Tom Hanks movie, Polar Express) which was opened to the public on football weekends. He also helped to supervise the construction of the cyclotron wall on campus. He was also a cab driver while attending college.
John substitute taught for a while before teaching in several high schools. In 1975, he was employed by Lansing Community Colleges as a full time Professor in English studies, where he taught for 27 years.
In the year 2000, John retired to Flushing, Michigan, becoming involved in the community and expanding and continuing his interest in art. In 2004, at the behest of then Mayor, Jan Gensel, he completed the mural on the north and west walls of the Department of Public Works in Riverview Park. Due to the encouragement of Tom Price, Steve Lowry, Dr. Mike and Vicki Frappier, John’s works were often present at art openings at Flushing’s Fandangles Restaurant. He continued with his pursuits of art throughout his retirement.
In his final years, John, always called Jack by his family, lived on the same block with his sisters, Rosellen and Margaret Mary. They were known for their many jaunts to estate sales, art shows, and venturing as far as the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.
John was known for his curious inquisitive and creative mind. He adored asking questions and listened attentively to responses. His friends and relatives all have stories about his many small kindnesses, his booming laugh and his powerful baritone singing voice. He had many talents. For years, he was an avid runner and bicyclist. Cooking and baking was another joy he shared with others. John’s distinctive, playful multi-media art is another lasting legacy with works gracing walls large and small throughout the region. He touched nothing in his life that he did embellish.
John is survived by his sister, Rosellen McAlear; brother, Robert (Cindy) McAlear; sister-in-law, Robin McAlear; the William Gannon cousins and favorite cousin Katie Rau; and many loving nieces and nephews. He is additionally survived by special friends, Joellen, Sasha, Sam and Elena Greer, Tim and Kathy Miank, Lynne Harned of East Lansing; Joe Green, Jeanette Mansour, Dr. Mike and Vicki Frappier, Tom Price, Steve Lowry, all of Flint; Susan Henderson of Lansing; Amanda Freymann, Joel LeGrand of Beverly Shores, Indiana; Debbie Lalonde of Birch Run; Trudy Carpenter of Suttons Bay; and Dr. Dale Herder of Charlevoix. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Andrew and Edward McAlear; and sister, Margaret Mary Mosher. |
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Visitation |
Date: |
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10/13/2021 |
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12:00 PM |
12 noon until the time of the service at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Rossell Funeral Home. |
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Funeral Service |
Date: |
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10/13/2021 |
Time: |
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1:00 PM |
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Location: |
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Rossell Funeral Home
307 E Main
Flushing, MI 48433Get a Map to this location...
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Official: |
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Pastor Sarah LaRose-Nettell |
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