Dr. John J. Minster MD

He was born June 18, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Catholic schools all his life and graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep at 16. He was the class valedictorian. He then attended Loyola University and Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and became a doctor. He served in the Coast Guard for two years. After completing his residency at University of Illinois, he moved his family to Mt. Pleasant where he was a general surgeon for many years and was the doctor for the Sacred Heart Academy football team .John was an avid skier, sailor and cyclist. He always said he hated to exercise, but he did it almost every day.

He said the key to happiness is to have low expectations because then you’re always pleasantly surprised. He read constantly and took a book everywhere he went, even the movies. It was always non-fiction and usually something historical. He was an admirer of Alexander the Great’s father Philip II and knew everything there was to know about him. John served on the board of the Maples Nursing home in Benzie for several years and was a member of the American College of Surgeons. He was a beloved father, who gave his children many unique and memorable experiences. He said true love is knowing you will always meet again. He leaves a big hole in our world. John is preceded in death by his son John.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, his former wife Marilyn, his sisters Sharon Carlson and Marytherese Croarkin, children, Kathryn (Tom) Phillips, Jim (Connie), Paul (Cathy), and Stephen, grandchildren John and Leah Minster, Tristan and Dansir Minster and Sam and Nick Messina, stepsons Dennis and Christopher and step grandchildren Alex, Christian, Anika and Aimee.

Visitation is Friday, November 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Covell Funeral Home. Funeral mass is at St. Raphael in Copemish Saturday, November 5, at 11 a.m. with visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home, Traverse City.