John F. Haslem

John Haslem passed away peacefully Tuesday December 5, 2017 with his wife, Barbara and son, Patrick at his side at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. John was born in Grand Rapids to Francis and Stephanie Haslem on November 26, 1940. He was a loving husband and role model father. He graduated from Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School in 1958. He went on to study at Grand Rapids Community College and then entered military service in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army as a medic from 1959-1962. During that time he served a tour of duty in Korea for 18 months. After an honorable discharge, he enrolled at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and received his B.S. degree in Biology in 1966. He and Barbara were married in 1967 and celebrated 50 years or marriage this past August. During their first year of marriage John taught the 4th grade class at St. James Catholic School in Grand Rapids. He then continued his studies at Michigan State University and obtained his M.S. Degree in Entomology in 1971. After graduation, he was employed by Michigan State University and spent his entire career there in Environmental Health and Safety Services in the Department of Police and Public Safety. John was a long distance runner while he was in high school and college and continued running until his 40’s including completing a number of marathons. His past part time jobs which gave him plenty of experience included working in the concession stands in John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids as a teenager, in the West Michigan gypsum mines, his uncle’s local bar and a local furniture factory to help

pay for his college education. John was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed fishing. He touched the hearts of many throughout his lifetime and was known for being willing to give someone the shirt off of his back. He is responsible for being highly influential and guiding a handful of close friends in attaining very successful careers. Using his natural teaching ability, he was loved by many of his friends’ children who he regularly taught skills that helped give them a positive head start in their lives. John is survived by his wife Barbara, son Patrick (Mailinh), his beloved dog Whiskers, two sisters, Marie Marlett and Shirley (Jim) Anderson; three nieces, a nephew and numerous close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in John’s memory to Church of the Resurrection, 1505 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing MI 48912. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday December 16th at 11:00am at Church of the Resurrection with Father Steve Mattson as celebrant. The family will receive friends on Friday December 15th from 1:00 – 3:00pm and 5:00 – 7:00pm with a rosary being said at 6:30pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 900 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912, and again on Saturday one hour prior to the funeral mass, at Church of the Resurrection