John C. Leary

John C. Leary age 92 of Hastings, died Saturday April 2, 2011 at Thornapple Manor. He was born July 14, 1918 in Alma , Michigan, the son of Vern and Louise (Miller) Leary. He graduated from Hastings High School. John served in the United States Army during WWII, he worked on the front line laying down communication lines and was involved in the Normandy Big Wave , he was awarded the Purple Heart. On June 3, 1946 John Married Mary Jane Menerey. John opened Leary's Sport Center in 1947 in downtown Hastings. John was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved being a Hastings merchant. He retired in 1983. His hobbies included: woodcarving, golf, flea markets and collecting antiques. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church , former Treasurer and Elder. John was preceded in death by his parent, his wife Mary Jane, son David John Leary, brother Robert Vern Leary, sister in-law Barbara Leary. He is survived by his 2 daughters: Peggy (Steve) Kaiser of Hastings, Mary (Doug) Case of Freeport, grandchildren: Paul Kaiser of Brooklyn NY., Jason Kaiser of Marquette, MI., Meghan (Antonio) Borin of Atlanta, GA., Jeremy (Andrea) Case of Grand Haven, Mi., Joshua (Casey) Case of Clarksville, MI.,7 great grandchildren: Madisyn, Wyatt, Isabelle, Elliot, Mitchell, Zeline and Eowyn. Visitation will be held Monday from 6-8pm at Girrbach Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday April 5, 2011 at 11:00am at Grace Lutheran Church 239 E. North St. Hastings. Pastor Amy Luckey will officiate the service. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville with full military honors by American Legion Post 45 of Hastings. Memorial can be made to the Grace Lutheran Church or Good Samaritan Hospice 300 North Ave. Battle Creek, Mi. 49017. Arrangements are by the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. Please visit our website to leave a message or memory to the family. www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.