1942
John
2016
John "Jack" Dorgan
September 11, 1942 — July 31, 2016
All who knew Jack Dorgan would agree that he was truly one of a kind. He was honest and funny, generous and caring with an unending devotion to the family he treasured.
The memory of Jack's kindness, devotion and love will linger in our hearts both as a cherished memory and as a source of inspiration in the years to come.
John "Jack" Dorgan was born on September 11, 1942, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to John R. and Mary A. (Dunn) Dorgan, Sr. Jack, as he was called, had many fond childhood memories growing up with his cousins, and often reminisced about the fun or mischief they got into. The value of hard work was instilled in Jack at a young age and carried on throughout his life. He worked as a tradesman his whole life - 26 years of it as a machinist at Borroughs Corporation in Kalamazoo. Jack was a very intelligent man, and knowledgeable about so many different topics. Without a doubt, Ginny says, "Jack was the smartest man I've ever known."
Being idle however was not something Jack knew how to do. After retiring, he often spent his time volunteering at Lending Hands in Portage, or kept busy with a woodworking project someone had for him. Retirement also allowed Jack to spend more time keeping his lawn meticulously manicured, which was the envy of the neighborhood. Yet, some might say his "heavenly calling" was taking care of the lawn at his church, the New Apostolic Church. With joy in his heart, he worked to make the church grounds look beautiful for 18 years; and in all that time, it was never a chore for Jack - he did it for the Lord. His faith was a cornerstone in his life, and Jack lived his faith.
Not to be forgotten was the year 1989, when Jack married Virginia "Ginny" Walls, who would change the course of his life forever. Together, with their blended families, they faced the ups and downs of life with unconditional love and unwavering faith.
A man of many interests, Jack loved to go to Bitely, Michigan to the Nehmer's campgrounds with family and friends, where he spent the day playing Bocce Ball and making sure there was wood cut for the fire pit. Traveling to new places with his Ginny by his side was without a doubt something Jack enjoyed, though there were still many more places to visit on his bucket list. A die-hard fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Jack loved the good humored bantering that went on between him and Pete every year when the Notre Dame/University of Michigan game came around. One of life's little enjoyments for Jack was eating cookies - there wasn't a cookie he did not love. A true "cookie monster," he actually thought if he ate all the cookies at night after Ginny went to bed, she would never notice they were gone come morning.
With his warm, kindhearted personality, Jack was the sort of person who blessed the people he met. He was more quiet and reserved, the type who enjoyed reading, and listening instead of talking, but the love he had for his family was easy to see. There wasn't anything Jack wouldn't do for those he loved, and nothing made him happier than knowing they cared for him just as much. He was a devoted husband, supportive father and step-father, proud grandfather and a cherished friend to many. In a little over a month, Jack was proudly looking forward to the wedding day of Anita and Bryan, and that he was the one of the two fathers who was honored to be asked to walk her down the aisle.
Gone, but never forgotten, Jack will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Surviving is his wife, Virginia A. "Ginny" Walls. Also surviving are children Kelley (Joe) Ruzak, Michael (Jennifer) Dalman, Anita Tyler and fiancé Bryan Breisch, Tony (Johniece) Tyler; several grandchildren including Nathan Cluster, Jeremy (Rebecca) Cluster, Aaron Cluster, Brittany (Will) Brockie and Brandon Tyler; great-grandchildren Logan, Hayden and Gabriel; his sister Elizabeth (Ron) Kurzmann.
A memorial service to celebrate Jack's life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, August 20th at the New Apostolic Church (3600 W. Milham). The family will receive friends at the church for one hour prior to service time, with refreshments. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jack's memory may be directed to the New Apostolic Church VBS Fund or to Lending Hands.
**MEMORIALS**
In lieu of flowers:
New Apostolic Church VBS Fund
3600 W. Milham Ave.
Portage, MI 49024
269-350-7898
nacportage.org
Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc.
5350 Ivanhoe Ct.
Portage, MI 49002
269-567-4381
Lendinghandsmi.org
3600 W. Milham Ave.
Portage, MI, US, 49024
3600 W. Milham Ave.
Portage, MI, US, 49024
The memory of Jack's kindness, devotion and love will linger in our hearts both as a cherished memory and as a source of inspiration in the years to come.
John "Jack" Dorgan was born on September 11, 1942, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to John R. and Mary A. (Dunn) Dorgan, Sr. Jack, as he was called, had many fond childhood memories growing up with his cousins, and often reminisced about the fun or mischief they got into. The value of hard work was instilled in Jack at a young age and carried on throughout his life. He worked as a tradesman his whole life - 26 years of it as a machinist at Borroughs Corporation in Kalamazoo. Jack was a very intelligent man, and knowledgeable about so many different topics. Without a doubt, Ginny says, "Jack was the smartest man I've ever known."
Being idle however was not something Jack knew how to do. After retiring, he often spent his time volunteering at Lending Hands in Portage, or kept busy with a woodworking project someone had for him. Retirement also allowed Jack to spend more time keeping his lawn meticulously manicured, which was the envy of the neighborhood. Yet, some might say his "heavenly calling" was taking care of the lawn at his church, the New Apostolic Church. With joy in his heart, he worked to make the church grounds look beautiful for 18 years; and in all that time, it was never a chore for Jack - he did it for the Lord. His faith was a cornerstone in his life, and Jack lived his faith.
Not to be forgotten was the year 1989, when Jack married Virginia "Ginny" Walls, who would change the course of his life forever. Together, with their blended families, they faced the ups and downs of life with unconditional love and unwavering faith.
A man of many interests, Jack loved to go to Bitely, Michigan to the Nehmer's campgrounds with family and friends, where he spent the day playing Bocce Ball and making sure there was wood cut for the fire pit. Traveling to new places with his Ginny by his side was without a doubt something Jack enjoyed, though there were still many more places to visit on his bucket list. A die-hard fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Jack loved the good humored bantering that went on between him and Pete every year when the Notre Dame/University of Michigan game came around. One of life's little enjoyments for Jack was eating cookies - there wasn't a cookie he did not love. A true "cookie monster," he actually thought if he ate all the cookies at night after Ginny went to bed, she would never notice they were gone come morning.
With his warm, kindhearted personality, Jack was the sort of person who blessed the people he met. He was more quiet and reserved, the type who enjoyed reading, and listening instead of talking, but the love he had for his family was easy to see. There wasn't anything Jack wouldn't do for those he loved, and nothing made him happier than knowing they cared for him just as much. He was a devoted husband, supportive father and step-father, proud grandfather and a cherished friend to many. In a little over a month, Jack was proudly looking forward to the wedding day of Anita and Bryan, and that he was the one of the two fathers who was honored to be asked to walk her down the aisle.
Gone, but never forgotten, Jack will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Surviving is his wife, Virginia A. "Ginny" Walls. Also surviving are children Kelley (Joe) Ruzak, Michael (Jennifer) Dalman, Anita Tyler and fiancé Bryan Breisch, Tony (Johniece) Tyler; several grandchildren including Nathan Cluster, Jeremy (Rebecca) Cluster, Aaron Cluster, Brittany (Will) Brockie and Brandon Tyler; great-grandchildren Logan, Hayden and Gabriel; his sister Elizabeth (Ron) Kurzmann.
A memorial service to celebrate Jack's life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, August 20th at the New Apostolic Church (3600 W. Milham). The family will receive friends at the church for one hour prior to service time, with refreshments. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jack's memory may be directed to the New Apostolic Church VBS Fund or to Lending Hands.
**MEMORIALS**
In lieu of flowers:
New Apostolic Church VBS Fund
3600 W. Milham Ave.
Portage, MI 49024
269-350-7898
nacportage.org
Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc.
5350 Ivanhoe Ct.
Portage, MI 49002
269-567-4381
Lendinghandsmi.org
Visitation
AUG 20. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
New Apostolic Church3600 W. Milham Ave.
Portage, MI, US, 49024
Service
AUG 20. 11:00 AM
New Apostolic Church3600 W. Milham Ave.
Portage, MI, US, 49024
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John "Jack" Dorgan, please visit our flower store.
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