John "Jack" Boyd Stout

It is with the most broken of hearts we say good-bye to our beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. Our dear Jack Stout passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his Dad, Mom, siblings and pets on Friday, November 26. He fought off the evils of cancer privately and with intense bravery and peacefulness like no other for almost 3 years, but ultimately had to let go, leave us behind, and make his way to heaven.

Jack was born in Gaylord, Michigan on July 5, 1997, and was the eldest son of David and Regina Stout. He spent the first 5 years of his life having immense fun shuffling between Mackinac Island, where his parents worked, and East Lansing until 2002 when East Lansing became the full-time residence of the Stout crew. He was truly blessed with a childhood that many could only dream about. It was filled with much activity, chaos and laughter that included huge Christmas, birthday, and Fourth of July parties, summer vacations in Escanaba with cousins, fall trips to the Circleville Pumpkin Show with his Ohio relatives and many simple days that were spent laughing and enjoying the company of so many. He felt incredibly lucky to grow up with his Grandma and Grandpa living next door, cousins and Aunts and Uncles living on the same street, and being watched over and loved by so many, including his sweet neighbor Therese Watters. Although he was an intensely private person, people could not help but want to be around him. He had a radiant smile, a smart and sarcastic sense of humor, a positive attitude, gentle nature and tall physical frame that just made you want to lean in and hug him which he always happily obliged you with a big squeeze back. He will forever be remembered as the best hugger on King Court.

Jack attended elementary school at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School, graduated from East Lansing High School and attended Michigan State University until he was medically unable to continue his junior year. He was a brilliant mind who could have taken any career path that he desired. During his early adult years of good health while attending college, he was an intern at Michael Patrick Shiels Big Show, and enjoyed running the scorers tables for youth basketball and volleyball games at St. Thomas with his best friend Aaron Messerschmidt. He later worked seasonal jobs as a tax preparer at X-Tax in Lansing and helped manage the Along the Fence Daylily farm in Dansville with his Aunts Mary and Saun, and numerous relatives and friends.

Jack is survived by so many people that loved him which included his parents David and Regina, siblings Mary, Ella, Bubbles and Tommy, grandparents Thomas and Barbara Cleary, Grandma Judy Stout, Pop Bill Stout (Jean Droste), 21 first cousins, 11 second cousins, many loving Aunts and Uncles, Godchild Michael John Leary, and “adopted siblings” Vince and Sloane Santorilla, Henry Fisher and Elizabeth Hillman-Heeder. He was preceded in death by his Uncle D. Michael Cleary

A public memorial mass will take place on Saturday, December 4, at St. John Church and Student Center in East Lansing at 11:30 a.m. with Father Anthony Strouse presiding. Immediately following there will be a big ole beige Jack Stout type luncheon served on the 4th floor of the Michigan State University football stadium. All are welcome.

Anyone who truly knew him realized socks were Jack’s thing. He requested that all wear their most funky and fun or stylish socks to the services. Also, in accordance with Jack’s wishes and the MSU health policies, all attendees must wear masks to protect each other from Covid and flu season. If you are unable to wear a mask, or cannot make the ceremony, there will be a live stream available at facebook.com/elsacraments

A burial of Jack’s ashes will take place privately in the future with his immediate family. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make a donation to the Capital Area Humane Society in Jack Stout’s name as he so dearly loved all his adopted pets.

Being the selfless person he was, Jack wanted to thank everyone who helped him along with his medical journey. That included so many medical professionals starting at Indiana University, back to East Lansing and then Grand Rapids. We could never properly list them individually here but they were all always appreciated. He truly entrusted his life to the dedicated health care professionals at Red Center Oncology of Dr. Anthony Brandau, Mai, Kevin, Penny, Jenna, Connie and their entire staff. These amazing individuals made him feel safe and loved and able to focus on the full-time job of fighting cancer. We truly believe that positive, personal and compassionate care ultimately gave him much more time on this earth which was a gift to us all.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Stout family.