John F Fitzgerald

     John F Fitzgerald, age 89, went home to be with the Lord on November 2, 2023 at Mapleview Retirement Community in the Rich & Helen Hospice Suite with family by his side.

     Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, November 6, 2023, at Restoration 58:12 Church of the Nazarene, 1001 West Washington (M-46), St. Louis, MI with his granddaughter Pastor Jessica Oswald officiating. Burial will be at Salt River Cemetery, Shepherd, MI. Visitation will be 2-5 P.M. Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Smith Family Funeral Homes - St. Louis.

     John was born June 25, 1934 on the family farm in Shepherd, MI to Floyd Fitzgerald and Anna (Redel) Fitzgerald. He graduated from Shepherd High School in 1954. John served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 as a communications specialist stationed in Germany.

     On August 24, 1957, John married Yvonne Irene Curtis at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Mt. Pleasant. They were blessed with sixty-six years of marriage.

     John was a longtime member of the Church of the Nazarene, serving Christ faithfully since 1957 as a Sunday School teacher of over 40 years, Sunday School Superintendent, and by going on three missions trips. He helped to build the St. Louis Church of the Nazarene.

     John worked for General Telephone (Verizon) for 35 years as a field engineer retiring in 1991. In retirement, he worked for Butler Communications for 10 years. He loved lawn work, favoring his Kubota tractor, and was a master woodworker. The last few years he enjoyed making up his own rules at family game nights. John lived a fulfilling life loving his friends and family, and he will be greatly missed by all.

     John was predeceased by his parents, his brother Ernest Fitzgerald, his sister Ruth Flannery-Lapham, his in-laws Hurcel and Nellie (Anthony) Curtis. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Yvonne, son Tim Fitzgerald, daughter Tammy (Curt) Oswald, son Tom (Tammy) Fitzgerald, and grandchildren: Jessica Oswald, C.J. Oswald, Jesse Fitzgerald, Grant (Emma) Fitzgerald, Madison Fitzgerald, and Garrett Fitzgerald.

     Memorials may be made to Maple View Retirement Community (4396 S. Luce Rd., Ithaca, MI 48847) or MyMichigan Hospice (4000 Wellness Dr., Midland, MI 48670). Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, Michigan.