John W. Patrick

Patrick, John William, age 64, of Fraser, passed away peacefully August 23, 2017. Loving husband of the late Carol (d. 1996 - Mattera); beloved son of the late Alexander and Mary; son-in-law of the late Joe and Ann Mattera; dear brother of Karen (the late Kenny) Matchett, the late Ellen (the late Tom) Russell, and Nancy A. (David) Maclean. Also survived by loving family members: Robert Mattera (and family), Ray Mattera; nieces and nephew, Sherry (Mark) Uhlman, Danielle and David Maclean; Carol’s children, Barb (Mark) Minar, Michael (Elaine) Kanter, and JoAnne Bemis; devoted father-in-law to Sara (Andy) Brenz. Adored Papa John of Jeremy and Chrissy Minar, Melanie Bemis, and Prudence and Miles Kanter. Also survived by his best friend, Allen (Julia) Yerke, and many current and long-time friends including Barb Livsey, Steve Blackwell (and family), Joe Yerke (and family) and Paulie Campbell. John was born on April 20, 1953, and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, graduating in 1971 from Dondero High School. He then went on to OCCC and worked various jobs including at the Hungry Penguin on 11 Mile and Woodward in Royal Oak. John eventually ended up working in the health care industry and was a long time orderly and private at the Georgian Bloomfield Nursing Home, where he eventually met his best friend, Carol, who was working as an LPN. After working in the health care industry, John became a union organizer for a local health care workers’ union, where he and Carol spent many years travelling to various hospitals throughout Michigan as union representatives of the hospitals’ employees. John and Carol lived in Troy, Michigan, and eventually moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, as Carol pursued her career in the health care union industry (SEIU). John and Carol were married on December 30, 1989. In Kalamazoo, John worked nights at a local grocery store, but during the day he was the caregiver of two of his grandchildren, Jeremy and Chrissy. He loved being with them every single day!!! After Carol’s death in 1996, John pursued a career with the Kalamazoo Public Schools from 1997 to 2008 as a bus driver, working on the paint crew in the summer, and also the union representative for the drivers and paint crew. Due to health issues, John had to retire in 2009 and moved from Kalamazoo to Fraser, Michigan to be closer to family. John then was able to re-connect with childhood friend, Allen Yerke, and also re-connected with many friends from the “old days”. The Yerkes and the Patricks both were families on East Hudson in southeast Royal Oak. John was also able to meet new friends in this area Steve-o, Paulie, and residents at the Fraser Senior Housing Apartments where he lived. John eventually went into a skilled nursing facility, Windemere Park, in Warren, under the care of Seasons Hospice. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff, employees, nurses, everyone at Windemere Park and Seasons Hospice for their kind, compassionate, and comforting care. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held Saturday 4-6 p.m. at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W 11 Mile Road (4 blocks E of Woodward), Royal Oak, MI 48067. Memorials to Seasons Hospice are appreciated. Share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com.

John W. Patrick

April 20, 1953 - August 23, 2017