Dr. Justin Kleaveland's Obituary
Dr. Justin Kleaveland died naturally on March 30, 2024, at the age of 99, just 12 days shy of turning 100. He was born to Dr. Ingram Justin and Hildreth Kleaveland in Sioux Rapids, Iowa on April 11, 1924. He attended Iowa State University and graduated with Honors from Case Western Reserve University Medical School in 1947. His post-graduate training in internal medicine and chest medicine was at Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin. He served as a 1st Lt. in the Army and was Chief of the Chest Service of the 5th General Hospital in Stuttgart, GY from 1951-1953.
Justin settled in Muskegon, MI in 1953 and began his career in internal medicine in Muskegon which he practiced for 44 years, eventually retiring in 1997. During his career, he served as Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at Mercy General Hospital. Along with other physicians, he initiated the first Coronary Care Unit in Muskegon. He also served as Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at Hackley Hospital and created the first Medical Library in Muskegon in 1954 at Hackley Hospital. He organized a team to respond to stroke emergencies which was new for the area, as well as the first use of a clot dissolving drug for a stroke patient in 1997 which resulted in the complete resolution of the paralysis. Also, in those days there were no cardiologists, pulmonologists, or oncologists so Justin went to Ann Arbor to learn to put pacemakers in the heart and keep up to date in pulmonary medicine and became a chemo-therapy-administering oncologist. In the early years he served on the Board of the Muskegon County Tuberculosis Sanatorium helping to bring about a transformation in the care of patients. Throughout his career he constantly strove to improve the quality of care for patients.
After retirement from his practice in 1997, he served the community in various roles. He was appointed Medical Director for Quality Control at Hackley from 1997-2002, and the Director of Lakeshore Continuing Medical Education from 2004-2008. He received The Distinguished Physician Award from the Hackley Cornerstone Foundation in 2003. In retirement he also volunteered for Visiting Nurses, Hospice, and Muskegon Community Health Project. He truly loved medicine and, even in retirement, always kept up with advances through medical journals and talking with his 3 children and 5 grandchildren who also became medical doctors.
Justin had a deep commitment to his family. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, qualities that, much like his professional life, left a lasting impact on those around him. While interning at Johns Hopkins Hospital he was taught bacteriology by Rosemary (Rodie) Stokes whom he married in 1948. Rodie and Justin raised six outstanding children. Rodie, by example, revealed the value of compassion and community service and instilled in the family the principle, "That we are all in this together” and so Justin became a Democrat. Rodie died in 1980. In 1986, Justin was blessed again when he married Kathleen Dempsey Kendall. Kathleen spent much of her life in community service involving social and racial justice, which expanded Justin’s horizon and enriched his life. Together with her five children from a previous marriage, Kathleen and Justin had 71 in their immediate family and holidays with the children were big events. He was very proud of his children, their great marriages, and successful lives. His grandchildren knew that “This is the year that counts"!
Justin was a constant learner and explored life and world topics with friends and family. Almost daily he could be found at Barnes and Noble bookstore, such a regular that you can go to the coffee counter and order “The Justin”. He particularly enjoyed the Tuesday Lunch Group with friends where the topics were politics, religion and the 'history of sex', and a poem was always read at the end of the meeting. He was persistent in trying to understand who we are as a people and his favorite aphorism was “We are just the head of the primates, don't expect too much”. He and Kathy were members of the C3 Community in Grand Haven where the values and purpose of life were explored without dogma. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and dear friend, Father Jack LaGoe, who introduced him to great poetry and unnamed rivers in the U.P. He was a strong advocate for education, universal health care and common-sense gun controls. Justin enjoyed traveling to 27 countries within Europe, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, The Americas, Polynesia, and the Caribbean.
SURVIVORS: Justin is survived by his wife, Kathleen Kleaveland, and his children: Dr. Patrick Kleaveland (Renee) of Allentown, PA; Timothy (Barb) Kleaveland; Dr. Andrew Kleaveland (Sue); Dr. Mary Kleaveland Pituch (Dr. Ken Pituch) of Dexter; Michael Kleaveland, JD (Sue) of Muskegon; and Elizabeth VanLieshout (Paul) of Reston, VA. In addition, he is survived by 14 grandchildren: Dr. Ben Kleaveland (Dr. Anne Granger); Nina (Kenny) Bacaw; Kira Kleaveland; Dr. Patti Kleaveland Castelli (Peter); Dr. Kate Kleaveland (Dr. Jeffrey Dzingle); Dr. Drew Kleaveland (Kim); Tim Pituch (Eugenia); Jeff Pituch (Emma Whitaker); Britt (Josie) Kleaveland, Dr. Tyler Kleaveland and Daly Kleaveland; Martha, Emma (Mitchell Jones) and Nick VanLieshout. He leaves 16 great-grandchildren: Elly and Nils Kleaveland; Julia, Oliver, and Will Castelli; Ethan, Drew, Liam, and Elise Dzingle; Bridget and Ruth Bacaw; Maeve and Mia Kleaveland; Eleanor and Dorothy Pituch; Callan Kleaveland; and sister-in-law, Sally Kleaveland. In addition, he is survived by his stepchildren: Debra Kendall of Grand Rapids, Steve Kendall (Chandra) of St. Simon's Island, GA, Julie Kendall (Chad Dawson), Scott Kendall (Lyn), Rob Kendall (Amy), and 10 step-grandchildren: Gabriel Smith, Christopher Slater; Bob and Michael McEwen; Sarah Bernstein (Zach Zebarth); Kaden and Kyle Kendall; Cole, Claire, and Ben Kendall; and sister-in-law, Gerry Harvey.
Justin was predeceased by 2 infant daughters, Ann and Ellen, and first wife, Rosemary Stokes Kleaveland. Also, by his parents and 3 brothers, Dr. Richard Kleaveland, Dr. Rodney Kleaveland, Dr. Jay Kleaveland; and sister-in-law Patricia Farber, step-brother Jim Dempsey, step-grandson Ken McEwen.
Dr. Kleaveland’s Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, May 11th at 11:00am, with the Tribute starting at 12:00 noon at the Lake House in Muskegon.
In lieu of flowers, we ask you to consider a donation to Every Woman’s Place, 1221 W. Laketon Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49441, or North Muskegon Walker Memorial Library, 1522 Ruddiman Drive, North Muskegon, MI 49445.
Arrangements entrusted to The Sytsema Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 737 Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442. Sign the online guestbook at http://www.sytsemafh.com
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