John Emerson DeMond

John Emerson DeMond, 92, of Alanson, Michigan, passed away in his home surrounded by his three loving children on Saturday morning, August 29, 2020.  His ashes will be buried during a family ceremony in Libertyville, Illinois next to those of his wife of 66 years, Marianne DeMond (1927-2016).

John was born in Coldwater, Michigan on October 18, 1927 to Raymond James DeMond and Beatrice DeMond (Stewart).  John and his older brother James took to the water at Ackerson Lake swimming and fishing regularly. Both boys went on to become All American swimmers, John following Raymond, a pitcher, into the Michigan State Hall of Fame.

The family moved from Coldwater to Jackson, Michigan and when John was fifteen, he met the lovely Edna Mae Senger. When he asked her name, he responded “I can’t call you that. How about Marianne?” Later, at MSU, Marianne applied her considerable administrative and organizational skills as executive secretary to the head of the MSU Athletics department. John was duly impressed. John and his brother James both served their country during World War II, James in Europe and John in Japan.

John and Marianne were married on July 8, 1950, and John began his career in the industrial tools business in Buffalo, New York. They raised three children, Laurie Rae, Cheryl Jaye, and Wade Stewart DeMond. The family later moved to Greenfield, MA, where John became Vice President of Greenfield Tap and Die, then to Libertyville, IL for United Greenfield Corporation.  John finished his career as a Vice President of TRW and then VP of Precision Twist Drill. In 1987, John was elected as President of the American Supply and Machinery Manufacturers Association. In 1995, John and Marianne retired to their beloved few acres on Crooked Lake in Alanson, MI. John enjoyed many years of golf at the Indian River Golf Club, where he so frequently shot under his age that he was featured in the Petoskey News and Review.

His family will perpetuate the foundational life lessons he and Marianne imparted. As children, we were awoken by our father’s incantation: “Up, up, up another day of opportunity!” In spite of the groans associated with yet another day of school, those words from childhood echo today with renewed significance. Children of the greatest generation, we will never forget the sacrifices they made, all with little complaint.

John and Marianne are survived by their children: Laurie (Gerald E. Rosen) DeMond-Rosen, Cheryl (Jeff Lusis) Tirrell Lusis and Wade Stewart (Michelle) DeMond; grandchildren Jacob DeMond Rosen, Leigh (Dominic) Tirrell Magnani, and Robert John DeMond; great-grandchildren Ryan Coleman Magnani and Olivia Marianne Magnani; niece Camille Marie (William) Pond and nephew Derek Paul (Diana) DeMond, grandnieces and nephews Joel Aiken and Jennifer (Jon Jon) Knepp and Evan and Jeremy DeMond and their families. Marianne is also survived by her cousin Carolyn (Terry) Keineth and her family.

John and Marianne join in eternity their parents, Raymond and Beatrice DeMond, and Gladys Senger and her sister Ethel (Claude) Whitcomb Case and their son Robert, John’s brother and sister-in-law James DeMond and Patricia DeMond (Bullis), may they all rest in peace.

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