Jean Everett Powell's Obituary
Jean Everett Powell, age 87, of Grand Haven passed away Sunday, May 17, 2015, at a local care facility. He was born March 11, 1928 in Alton, Illinois to Everett and Isabelle (Wise) Powell. He grew up in Greenville, Illinois with brothers, Don and Dick Powell, who preceded him in death.
After Jean graduated from high school in 1946 he entered the army at age 18 during the end of WWII. While in the army he was sent to Japan as part of the US Occupation and was assigned to Adjutant General’s Department under General Douglas MacArthur as a reports decoder.
After his discharge, Jean attended Business College in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon completion he was called back into service during the Korean War as a foreign language tester in Ft. Sheridan, Ill. There he met and married his first wife and mother of their four children, Virginia McCann.
Jean moved to Muskegon after his second discharge and worked as an aircraft parts inspector during the Vietnam War and until he retired in 1990. He learned to fly in the early 1970’s as an aircraft mechanic.
In 1979, Jean remarried to Nancy Ambrosius Clock and moved to Grand Haven, Michigan. During the recession he attended school for computer programing and worked at two different businesses until retiring in 1990.
Jean is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Powell; children Tony (Amy) Powell, Kimberly (Larry) Black, Cynthia (Ed) Erickson, Deborah Wilson; stepchildren Dorothy Clock Starr, Mary Clock (Tom) Rust, Sarah Clock Robinson; grandchildren, Sylvia, Owen and Nathanael Powell, Rowen and Sophie Rust, Ryan (Alysha) Black, Tara (Eric) Black, Doug (Karlie) DeYoung, Rev. Fr. Craig DeYoung, Rebecca (Ronnie) Tippelt, Sam Duffie, CJ and Reggie Robinson, Chad (Kim) Erickson, Jaime (Cliff) Smedley, Randall (Tom) Stone, Kenneth (Jennie) Wilson, Sue Peterson; great-grandchildren, Jason, Grace and Luke Long, Ari DeYoung, Ayden Ramos, Brianna and Jonah Barnes, Brittany (Caleb) Wilson, Austin Smedley, Dakota (Brittany) Stone, Kyle, Jordan and Ryan Peterson; great-great-grandchildren, Ayden Evans, Chad Michael Erickson, Jada Duffie, and Ridley Black.
Jean is preceded in death by his parents Everett and Isabelle (Wise) Powell; brothers, Don and Dick Powell; and stepdaughter, Elizabeth Clock Duffie.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015, at St. John’s Episcopal Church with The Very Rev. Jared C. Cramer officiating. Friends may meet the family one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions to St. John’s Episcopal Church or Hospice of North Ottawa Community are appreciated. Share memories with family at their online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
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