1938
John
2021
John Leigh Melvin
February 9, 1938 — January 27, 2021
Kalamazoo
MELVIN, John Leigh
of Kalamazoo, MI
John Leigh Melvin, age 82, of Kalamazoo, Michigan and formerly of Gull Lake, Michigan and Drummond Island, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2021. Leigh was born on February 9, 1938 in Gary, Indiana, the son of the late John Coleman Melvin and Katherine (Turner) Melvin Ransel.
He earned a Bachelor's Degree of Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan and was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He loved U of M football and spent many memorable moments with his family in the fall at the Big House. Go Blue!
He was also a Boy Scout leader and enjoyed coaching his son Jeremy in AYSO soccer. He really enjoyed spending time with and watching his Grandsons Coleman and Carson play football and baseball. He also enjoyed woodcarving, hunting, ice boating and the many trips he and his wife took exploring the world.
He worked for 30 years as an Industrial Engineer with the Upjohn Company prior to his retirement. Following retirement he moved from Gull Lake, Michigan to Drummond Island, Michigan and spent many years enjoying his passion for sailing, fishing and oil painting pictures in his art studio. He and his wife sailed to the North Channel in the summers spending weeks on their sailboat. He built a wooden boat named the Wood Duck that they used to go fishing and exploring around Drummond Island and would take it to Florida with them in the winter. He moved back to the Kalamazoo area several years ago to be closer to family.
On November 20, 1981, he was united in marriage to Carol H. (Hart) Melvin, who survives. Also surviving are his 2 children, Jenny (John) Rodriguez and Jeremy Melvin; step children Susan (Bob Sursely) McDonald, Jeff Waldeck and Julie (Cass) Johnson; Grandchildren Coleman and Carson Rodriguez; step grandchildren Melissa (Lee) Jones and David (Megan) McDonald; step great-grandchildren Alex, Ben and Adilynn Jones; his brother Bill (Joyce) Melvin; nieces, nephews and cousins.
He will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor and his wit.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Lake Doster Golf Club, 166 Country Club Blvd., Plainwell, Michigan 49080 on Saturday May 15th from 2:00 - 5:00pm.
Memorials in Leigh's memory may be directed to the charity of your choice in Leigh's name.
To view Leigh's personalized webpage please visit https://www.langelands.com
of Kalamazoo, MI
John Leigh Melvin, age 82, of Kalamazoo, Michigan and formerly of Gull Lake, Michigan and Drummond Island, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2021. Leigh was born on February 9, 1938 in Gary, Indiana, the son of the late John Coleman Melvin and Katherine (Turner) Melvin Ransel.
He earned a Bachelor's Degree of Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan and was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He loved U of M football and spent many memorable moments with his family in the fall at the Big House. Go Blue!
He was also a Boy Scout leader and enjoyed coaching his son Jeremy in AYSO soccer. He really enjoyed spending time with and watching his Grandsons Coleman and Carson play football and baseball. He also enjoyed woodcarving, hunting, ice boating and the many trips he and his wife took exploring the world.
He worked for 30 years as an Industrial Engineer with the Upjohn Company prior to his retirement. Following retirement he moved from Gull Lake, Michigan to Drummond Island, Michigan and spent many years enjoying his passion for sailing, fishing and oil painting pictures in his art studio. He and his wife sailed to the North Channel in the summers spending weeks on their sailboat. He built a wooden boat named the Wood Duck that they used to go fishing and exploring around Drummond Island and would take it to Florida with them in the winter. He moved back to the Kalamazoo area several years ago to be closer to family.
On November 20, 1981, he was united in marriage to Carol H. (Hart) Melvin, who survives. Also surviving are his 2 children, Jenny (John) Rodriguez and Jeremy Melvin; step children Susan (Bob Sursely) McDonald, Jeff Waldeck and Julie (Cass) Johnson; Grandchildren Coleman and Carson Rodriguez; step grandchildren Melissa (Lee) Jones and David (Megan) McDonald; step great-grandchildren Alex, Ben and Adilynn Jones; his brother Bill (Joyce) Melvin; nieces, nephews and cousins.
He will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor and his wit.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Lake Doster Golf Club, 166 Country Club Blvd., Plainwell, Michigan 49080 on Saturday May 15th from 2:00 - 5:00pm.
Memorials in Leigh's memory may be directed to the charity of your choice in Leigh's name.
To view Leigh's personalized webpage please visit https://www.langelands.com
To order memorial trees in memory of John Leigh Melvin, please visit our tree store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Celebration of Life
Saturday, May 15, 2021
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Lake Doster Golf Club
Guestbook
Photo Gallery
Visits: 27
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors