John Peter Kaucheck, Sr.

John Peter Kaucheck, Sr., age 106, of Spring Lake, formerly of Macomb Township, passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Trinity Health Heartwood Lodge. He was born on July 9, 1918, in Calumet, MI, to the late Jacob and Katarina (Reitz) Kavchic.

John graduated from high school and went on to proudly serve his country in the US Army from 1943 to 1946, during World War II. Prior to his time in the service, John married Eleanor M. Besso, who preceded him in death on May 29, 2000.

In his younger years, John began his working life delivering newspapers and working in local grocery stores. He later joined the Kaucheck family legacy of employment with Chrysler Corp., who had the longest family history of employment there. John started out in the mailroom and retired from management after over 40 years of service to the company. During his time there, John traveled internationally, including setting up a new manufacturing assembly facility in Iran.

John was a big Detroit Tigers Baseball fan and family man, who loved to golf, go to dinner at Bear Lake Tavern, and was close to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In his younger years, during the Big Band Era, he loved taking his wife, Eleanor, out dancing and going to band performances in Fruitport. John was also a proud Patriot and Veteran who was honored to be chosen to participate in traveling on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. at the age of 99.

John will be forever remembered and missed by his two sons, John “Pete” (Audrey) Kaucheck, Jr. of Grand Haven, and Mike (Michelle) Kaucheck of Ann Arbor; four beloved grandchildren: Lynna Kaucheck (Jay) Garcia, Abby (Ben) Davis, and Marissa and Matthew Kaucheck; three great-grandchildren who he adored: Jackson, Grace, and Isla; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eleanor; five siblings; and his wife’s brother, “Uncle Barney.”

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Heartwood Lodge for their wonderful care of John during his time there.

The Memorial Mass for John will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024, at St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church, Clinton Township. Interment will be next to his wife at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit at a later date.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Shriners International-Saladin Shriners Chapter, or Trinity Health at Home Hospice Grand Haven.

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