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Memorial List

John Wilber

John Owen Wilber
3/22/1950 - 1/30/2022

      John passed away peacefully, in his sleep, early in the morning on Sunday, January 30th. Both ironically, and fittingly, he died of heart failure. We say this because, more than anything, John had a big, big heart, and he gave so much to others that it finally gave out. Kind, funny, and generous to a fault, John’s heart was as big as it needed to be to help anyone he knew who needed help, whether they asked for help or not. He was so generous, in fact, that if you were having a meal with John in a restaurant, it was not uncommon for the waitperson to come to the table after John paid the bill and say, “You must have made a mistake, Sir. Surely you didn’t intend to leave such a large tip.”

      For more than 50 years in and around Macomb, Illinois, John was known to and by so many people. His natural gregariousness, his love for joking and teasing, and his wit were known far and wide. With the many college students coming through town for four years or more each, including hundreds who were employed at his bar, the Change of Pace, John made an endless number of friends and stayed in touch with most of them until the very end. He had special relationships with many of his family members, and also with a core group of his best and most long-time friends. Not only are there too many to mention by name, also we wouldn’t want to inadvertently omit anyone, so we won’t attempt to make a list. Each of you knows who you are, and we wanted to give a special shout-out to all of you!

      That said, a few people warrant special mention. First and foremost are his nephew, Robb, and his nieces, Christy and Jessica. After moving back to Michigan in 2016, John reconnected with high school friend Elaine Stark McCarty and she was John’s angel on earth, visiting him frequently, taking him out for meals and on errands, and devoting hundreds of hours to John’s well-being and needs. Also, two of John’s dear friends from high school, Hal Roth and Nick Vitale, checked in with him regularly and cheered him up during these past several, difficult years.

      If the measure of a man can be taken by calculating the number of friends he has and the amount of love and caring they show for him, then John’s life is immeasurable.

 

In John’s memory,

Jim Wilber

 

 
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02/09/22 04:38 PM #18    

James Wilber

Olive, such a nice tribute, thank you. John really enjoyed seeing you (and Patti) when you visited him in Rochester Hills, and of course, also in conjunction with the 50th reunion. 


02/09/22 04:41 PM #19    

James Wilber

Bob, And thank you for your message and the nice words about me too. It was so good to see and catch up with you at the 50th reunion and the tour that weekend of what was DMHS. I can still remember vividly laying down some rock and roll at your house in (probably) 9th grade. 


02/10/22 11:46 AM #20    

Gary Westendorf

I never can recall John NOT being a happy guy.  Something I've always admired.  Jim,that may have been 10th grade, remember singing Beatles 

"Nowhere Man"?


02/11/22 11:17 PM #21    

James Wilber

Gary, thank you for the words about John. I'm sure you're right about it being 10th grade, and yes, I remember "Nowhere Man". 


02/14/22 04:08 PM #22    

Susan Blanchet (Kessel)

John stood out because of his kind spirit and jovial nature.  His humor helped me survive Marion McConnell's Latin class.  Special thoughts and prayers to Jim, members of John's family, and his close friends, because he was one of a kind.

Susan Blanchet Kessel


02/16/22 12:01 AM #23    

James Wilber

Susan, thank you for the remembrance. John must have been funny to get a person through Latin class!


02/19/22 03:30 PM #24    

Christine Doyle (Eagle)

 

Jim, 

     I believe I first met you and John in Confirmation class when we were 12 or 13. John, God bless him, offered much needed comic relief!  I can still see your brother standing there, hands in pockets, bright eyes and a genuine grin. John particularly loved using his wit to make friends laugh out loud. That's what I remember most about him. Laughing out loud together.
     My heartfelt condolences to you, Jim, your family and John's large family of friends. Memories of John are timeless and losing him, for the time being, is an immense loss. John took the high road and is one of the treasured souls who will always be remembered fondly. 

Christine Doyle Eagle

 

 

 


02/20/22 08:36 AM #25    

James Wilber

Christine, thank you for the very nice words. It was great for both John and me to catch up with you at the 50th reunion. 


02/20/22 11:51 AM #26    

Kirk Dennis

Hi Christine & Jim:  I was also in the Confirmation Class at Countryside Presbyterian Church with both of you and John.  And here we are almost sixty years later in contact, relationship, and communication.  Somethng special and touching about this.  Glad we could be present for John's passing and for each other after all these years.  Heart Blessings!


02/21/22 09:15 AM #27    

James Wilber

Thank you Kirk. 


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