John M. Cates

CATES, John M.
of Kalamazoo, MI Passed away, November 19, 2009 at Friendship Village in Kalamazoo. He was born June 14, 1917 in Winchester, TN, to the late Moses Lee and Loudella Cates. John grew up in Detroit where he graduated from Pershing High School, and was united in marriage on April 6, 1940, to the former Helen Dryden, who preceded him in death in 2006. John worked in the machine-tool industry and for the Automotive Council for War Production in Detroit before enlisting with the Army Air Corps. In a long career with the Ohio Knife Company, John served as Detroit district manager where he became well known throughout the automotive and paper industries in Michigan. He later moved to Northern California as president of the Ohio Knife subsidiary, the Edward E. Conn Company, which eventually was relocated to Aurora, Indiana. John and Helen were living in Cincinnati upon his retirement, and moved to Kalamazoo in 1993. Surviving John are his children, John M. Lorraine Cates of Long Beach, IN and Pamela M. Meyer of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI; grandchildren, Amy Larry Kropp, Heather Cates, John Colleen M. Cates, Jr., Jason Cates, Cody Dana Meyer and Jennie Paul Meyer-Silva; nine great-grandchildren, Kelly, Michael, Harrison, Marshall, Jack, Jessica, John Paul, Ella and Maxwell; and nine nieces and nephews. Also preceding John in death were two sisters, Aurelia Sweeney and Martha Solomon. Family will greet friends, Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 East Centre Ave. Services will take place Saturday, 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 W. Centre Ave., Portage. In lieu of flowers, memorials in John's name may be directed to Friendship Village "Friends Fund". Please see www.langelands.com for online obituary, directions, register book and condolences. 343-1508