John Edway Ross

ROSS, John Edway
Of Kalamazoo John Edway Ross, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died April 21, 2012, at the age of 72 of a stroke. Born November 8, 1939, in Kalamazoo, MI, to Geraldine E. Folk and John Buel Ross, he grew up in Plainwell and was raised by his grandfather, Edway Rison Folk and his step-grandmother Elsie Folk. He graduated from Plainwell High School in 1958, where he was active in Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. John met his future wife, Judith G. Fry, in high school, and they were later married in 1961. In 1962, during the Cuban Crisis, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, graduated as an officer from Michigan Military Academy and remained in the U.S. Army Reserves for more than thirty years. He served as the Commander of the 415th Civil Affairs Unit and went to Germany on several training maneuvers. John retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. John joined the City of Kalamazoo police force in 1965 as a patrolman and progressed through the motorcycle squad, the mobile crime lab, the bomb squad, and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He later was promoted to the Lieutenant in charge of the Training Bureau and Crime Prevention Unit. During this time, he also completed his Bachelors Degree and Masters in Public Administration at Western Michigan University by working the midnight shift. In 1976, then City Manager, Robert C. Bobb, assigned John to act as the Assistant City Manager. John was then appointed the Police Chief in 1977. John had submitted a plan to Robert Bobb in 1976-77 to completely consolidate the Police and Fire departments to save expenses. In 1981, the City of Kalamazoo began to implement his plan. The cross training allowed for the more efficient use of all the staff. George Danz, the former Fire Chief, also assisted with this unification and the result was the largest Public Safety Department in the nation and still is to this day. In 1989, John suffered a cardiac arrest in his office and was revived by his officers. After 23 years of public service he retired but continued to work as a private consultant and a Real Estate Appraiser with Maturen and Associates. He was also a member of many professional organizations. John, a member of First United Methodist Church, served on many committees, including the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Kitchen Committee, Wesley Board, Outreach Committee, Communications Committee, and volunteered in the food pantry. John was also asked to oversee a major building project at the church. He did it with love and pride, and upon completion, was asked to be the interim Business Administrator. John loved his family, friends, church and pursuing new projects. He had many varied interests, from playing basketball and running track in high school to playing brass instruments in the band. During his life he played on softball and bowling leagues, enjoyed golf, camping, boating and fishing, building and remodeling houses, cooking, traveling, genealogical research, learning new languages and attending plays and musical productions. He was also an avid photographer. He leaves behind his loving wife of fifty years, Judy, and their two daughters Laura Erik Kayser, and Elizabeth Gavin Berkey; adored grandchildren Anna Kayser, Joel Kayser, and Elena Berkey; sister and brother-in-law Janice and Herman Zimmerman; brother-in-law David Buell; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, and a half-sister Bobann Buell. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, 212 South Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI, on Saturday, April 28th, at 11:00 a.m. along with visitation on Friday, April 27th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the church. Private family inurnment will be in the church columbarium. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church or Loaves and Fishes. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick.