John E. Bond

Age 81

John E. Bond, loving husband of Jenny Taylor Bond for 36 years, passed away peacefully at Sparrow on April 8, 2012. John was born in Gratiot County, MI on July 23, 1930. He moved to Lansing as a child with his now deceased parents, Hubert I. and Metta Merle Bond. He was a graduate of Eastern High School and is still remembered as an outstanding track and cross country participant. After attending General Motors Institute and serving in the Army during the Korean conflict, John joined Oldsmobile where he worked in production engineering for 37.5 years. He was most proud of leading and completing his last major V-6 project at Olds with his co-workers--coming in under budget and ahead of schedule. After retiring in 1988 he worked in a number of part-time engineering positions. John was a regular at the downtown and Oak Park YMCAs before joining the Michigan Athletic Club. He played racquetball for more than 40 years. He was a huge MSU women’s volleyball fan and received the SideOut Club Service Award in recognition of his long time commitment to the program. John believed in supporting local organizations, especially Highfields, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and WKAR. He and Jenny received The Robert L. Drake Citizenship Award from Highfields in 2011 for their long time support of Highfields since the death of their sons, Curtis Bond in 1977 and Marty Bond in 1979.

John was designated the honorary “Mayor of Bobolink” by his Mason neighbors and the “godfather” of a group attending the Indy 500 race for more than 40 years.

He was very active for many years in the GM Salaried Retirees Club and served as Board Member, President, and Treasurer; coordinated the “3rd Wednesday GM Retirees Lunch Group” at Tony M’s; and was the leader of the Eastern High School Class of 1949 Reunion Committee. He was contributing to these groups until a week before his death. He also served on the national General Motors Retiree Council.

John will be remembered for his fondness for his family and children, the Wall Street Journal, Strohs, Crunchy’s, debating, using duct tape, birds at Bobolink and his side yard, designated “Bond Park” by his neighbors and his inability to drive a non-GM vehicle. He had the opportunity to travel with Jenny to many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and the Caribbean.

In addition to his parents and sons, John was predeceased by his sisters, Diane Bond at birth, Margaret Shafer of Mason and Addie Janette Harrington of Reston, VA; Jenny’s parents, Martha and Woodrow Taylor of NC, brothers-in-law Lynn Downing and Robert Harrington and two nephews, Michael Shafer and Norman Downing. In addition to Jenny, he is survived by his brother, Carl D. Bond (Carolyn) of Lansing; sister, Katharine Downing of Florida; brothers-in-law, Woody Taylor (Patricia) and Emmette Taylor (Karen) of NC and numerous much-cherished nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by dear friends, Stella and Jerry Cash and their family, Matt and Mary Ellen Zabik, Margaret Whitman, Dana Ott and Al Stock. He joins his long-time friends Ralph Edminster who has been preparing the racquetball courts and golf courses and Harvey Whitman.

John will be sorely and lovingly missed and fondly remembered. The family is most appreciative of the superb staff at Sparrow who treated him professionally and with compassion on 4 South and in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Dr. Larry Rawsthorne and Dr. Jennifer Ely.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 10:00am at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Lansing, MI.

Memorial gifts may be made to Highfields, Inc., P.O. Box 98, Onondaga, MI 49264; Lansing Symphony Orchestra, 501 S. Capitol Ave., Suite 400, Lansing, MI 48933; WKAR , 404 Wilson Road @212, Communication Arts and Sciences Building, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824 or the charity of your choice. On-line condolences may be made at grlansing.com.