John William Gleason, 80, of Houghton Lake passed away on Sunday November 5, 2023 at home with his loving family by his side.
John was born on May 18, 1943 in Owosso, Michigan to John and Mary (Talon) Gleason. He grew up in the Flushing area and graduated from Flushing High School. John served his country with the Army National Guard. He worked as a Journeyman Electrician for Consumers Power for many years before retiring. John moved to the Houghton Lake area from Grand Blanc. John met Mary “Jan” in 1991 and they married on May 18, 1993 in Grayling. John enjoyed tinkering with old tractors, he was a Past President of the Michigan Steelheaders Association and loved fishing steelhead in his younger years. He was active with Big Brothers- Big Sisters of America. John’s calling was to serve and minister to members of society that were inmates, incarcerated or just in need of direction in their life. He was a member of the Forgotten Man Ministry, Roscommon County Jail Ministry, Prison Ministry, Roscommon County Juvenille Detention Center Volunteer, and Chaplin for the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Department. His ministering for people in need began when he lived in the Flint area and continued for his entire life while in Roscommon County, and made John loved and well known throughout the area.
Surviving Mr. Gleason are his loving wife of 30 years, Mary Janice “Jan” Gleason of Houghton Lake; three daughters, Michelle (Jeff) Ferguson of Flushing, Stephanie Kaeb of Zeeland, and Andrea (Trent) Millard of Midland; ten grandchildren, Gary(Dakota) Taylor, Rob(Rae) Taylor, Kathleen Ferguson, Tommy Ferguson, Cassidy(Nick) Kaeb, Sidney Kaeb, Peyton Kaeb, Ashleigh Verdier, Gavin Millard, and Evan Millard; twin brother, Walter Gleason of Caro; sister, Wanda Topham of Caro; several nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Mike, Kelly, and Joe; and four sisters, Rita, Agnes, Waunita, and a triplet to John and Walter, also named Waunita .
Memorial Services for John William Gleason will be conducted at 11:00am on Monday November 27, 2023 from Pathways Baptist Church, Prudenville, with Pastor Jeff Tuttle officiating. Interment will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be held on Sunday November 26, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Christler Funeral Home, Houghton Lake Chapel. Memorial contributions in memory of John are asked to be directed to Pathways Baptist Church or the Roscommon County Jail Ministries. Christler Funeral Home, Houghton Lake Chapel is serving the family. Condolences can be sent to the family online at www.christler-holdship.com
