- Date Of Birth: September 11, 1942
- Date Of Death: July 31, 2016
- State: Michigan
John “Jack” Dorgan was born on September 11, 1942, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to John R. and Mary A. (Dunn) Dorgan, Sr. Jack, as he was called, had many fond childhood memories growing up with his cousins, and often reminisced about the fun or mischief they got into. The value of hard work was instilled in Jack at a young age and carried on throughout his life. He worked as a tradesman his whole life – 26 years of it as a machinist at Borroughs Corporation in Kalamazoo. Jack was a very intelligent man, and knowledgeable about so many different topics. Without a doubt, Ginny says, “Jack was the smartest man I’ve ever known.”
Being idle, however, was not something Jack knew how to do. After retiring, he often spent his time volunteering at Lending Hands in Portage, or kept busy with a woodworking project someone had for him. Retirement also allowed Jack to spend more time keeping his lawn meticulously manicured, which was the envy of the neighborhood. Yet, some might say his “heavenly calling” was taking care of the lawn at his church, the New Apostolic Church. With joy in his heart, he worked to make the church grounds look beautiful for 18 years; and in all that time, it was never a chore for Jack – he did it for the Lord. His faith was a cornerstone in his life, and Jack lived his faith.
Not to be forgotten was the year 1989, when Jack married Virginia “Ginny” Walls, who would change the course of his life forever. Together, with their blended families, they faced the ups and downs of life with unconditional love and unwavering faith.
A man of many interests, Jack loved to go to Bitely, Michigan to the Nehmer’s campgrounds with family and friends, where he spent the day playing Bocce Ball and making sure there was wood cut for the fire pit. Traveling to new places with his Ginny by his side was without a doubt something Jack enjoyed, though there were still many more places to visit on his bucket list. A die-hard fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Jack loved the good-humored bantering that went on between him and Pete every year when the Notre Dame/University of Michigan game came around. One of life’s little enjoyments for Jack was eating cookies – there wasn’t a cookie he did not love. A true “cookie monster,” he actually thought if he ate all the cookies at night after Ginny went to bed, she would never notice they were gone come morning.
With his warm, kindhearted personality, Jack was the sort of person who blessed the people he met. He was quieter and reserved, the type who enjoyed reading, and listening instead of talking, but the love he had for his family was easy to see. There wasn’t anything Jack wouldn’t do for those he loved, and nothing made him happier than knowing they cared for him just as much. He was a devoted husband, supportive father and stepfather, proud grandfather, and a cherished friend to many. In a little over a month, Jack was proudly looking forward to the wedding day of Anita and Bryan, and he was one of the two fathers who was honored to be asked to walk her down the aisle.
Gone, but never forgotten, Jack will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Surviving is his wife, Virginia A. “Ginny” Walls. Also surviving are children Kelley (Joe) Ruzak, Michael (Jennifer) Dalman, Anita Tyler and fiancé Bryan Breisch, Tony (Johniece) Tyler; several grandchildren including Nathan Cluster, Jeremy (Rebecca) Cluster, Aaron Cluster, Brittany (Will) Brockie and Brandon Tyler; great-grandchildren Logan, Hayden and Gabriel; his sister Elizabeth (Ron) Kurzmann.
