John Cletus Stanton

John Cletus Stanton passed away in the early morning of Monday, May 20, 2013 holding hands with family members after a very short stay at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. John was born April 26, 1919 in Bristol, Quebec, the Ottawa River Valley of Canada. He was the son of Eddie and Ruth (Burke) Stanton. He spent the first 24 years of his life on the family farm, later working in a lumber camp, teaching in a one room country schoolhouse, working for Marconi Radio in Montreal, and Chrysler Corp. in Windsor, Ontario. In 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He met Lucile Ann Lynch, a U.S. Coast Guard officer, in St. Louis, MO when he asked her to dance at a New Year’s Eve party thrown for service men and women. On June 9, 1945 they married at the Old Cathedral in St. Louis. They were joyfully married for 41 years until Lucile passed away suddenly in 1986. John was employed for 38 years by the Miller-Davis Construction Co., where he served in many management capacities, among them Paymaster, Field Personnel director, and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer. He was active in union-management negotiations, and served on the Apprenticeship Committees of the Cement Finishers, Ironworkers, and State Carpenters Apprenticeship boards. He also served as a Trustee for the Health, Welfare and Pension Board of the Kalamazoo Bricklayers and Outstate Trowel Trades. A member of St. Ambrose Parish in Parchment, he served on the Building Committee, the Parish and Diocesan Councils, and was a Minister of the Eucharist and Lector. A dedicated gardener, John literally produced tons of produce in his lifetime, but his great love was growing flowers, especially gladiolas, which he loved to give to grateful family and friends. During his retirement, John did volunteer work with St. Ambrose, Loaves and Fishes of Kalamazoo. As a performer with Senior Services’ Prime Time Players, John shared his Irish roots with rousing performances in nursing homes and senior living centers in his plaid cap, Aran sweater, and blackthorn shillelagh to entertain with Irish songs and jokes. He is survived by five children and their spouses, Kate (Dennis) Corcoran of Denver, CO, Rosemary (David) Gardiner of Kalamazoo, Patricia (James) York of East Aurora, NY (deceased 2005), Thomas (Maria) Stanton of Washington, DC and Timothy (Tamar) Stanton of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren Jessica Gardiner McKinley of Kalamazoo, Erin Gardiner of Chicago, IL, John David (Addie) Gardiner, of Kalamazoo, Ross Patrick Gardiner of Chicago, Nora York Bacher (Jason) of Columbus, OH, Ben York of Buffalo, NY, Geof Stanton of Washington, DC, Elizabeth Stanton of Los Angeles, CA, Chloe Vitrano, and Rose Lucile Stanton, of Los Angeles, CA; great-grandchildren Caden and Rowan McKinley, and Ian Kozic, Grace Lucile and Bennie Michelle Gardiner; he was pre-deceased by brothers W. J. and Edmund Stanton of Quyon, Quebec, Canada, and sisters Monica and Muriel Stanton of Ottawa, and Irma Blackwell of Toronto; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In John’s own words, “John and Lucile are famous only for their dedication to each other but especially for the fine family they raised and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who keep the family going.” Friends will be received Wednesday, May 22, from 6-8PM (Rosary from 6-6:30PM) at Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Avenue., 269-343-6156. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, May 23 at 11AM at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 1628 East G Ave., Parchment, Fr. James O’Leary celebrant. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lucile Stanton Art or Pat York English Funds at Hackett Catholic Central, or to St. Ambrose Parish.