John Ovink

John was born June 25, 1949 in Pontiac, Michigan to Henry and Ethel (White) Ovink and graduated from Southfield High School. He attended technical college to hone his skills as an auto technician using his GI benefits.

John was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969 and after basic training at Fort Knox and specialized training at Fort Leonard Wood, was deployed with the 36th Battalion of Engineers as a 5 Ton Truck Driver in Vietnam where he was lucky to be in non-combat zones much of the time. John extended his stay in Vietnam so that he would be discharged upon return to the USA. John shared many stories and pictures of the villagers he met while building roads in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cars were John’s earliest passion. Fixing them, rebuilding them, racing them, keeping them shiny. His car passion led him to work at 14 years old for a local gas station. He went on to work for Greenfield Tire in Southfield before and after his Army service and only left to move to the U.P. There he helped set up the Auto Shop at the Marquette Kmart which would open in Fall 1974. John worked for Kmart as a Master Mechanic until Kmart closed the shop. Next, he found work at Nelson Chevrolet (later Crowne, now Fox) in Negaunee. Even after retiring from full time work, he continued to work a couple days per week for them. John finally retired from Fox but would continue to stop in and visit with the ‘guys’ from time to time.

John had a superb work ethic. When not working on cars, he was working on his home and property. Over the years he built and grew a garden that produced vegetables, fruits, and flowers to keep his family supplied and had enough to share with friends and neighbors.

John’s creative side was ever present. He enjoyed working with wood, building furniture and crafting many woodturning projects to sell in art fairs and craft sales. He milled much of the wood used while also managing the forest of the homestead.

When he wanted to get away from work, John enjoyed fishing, feeding birds, watching the hijinks of squirrels, turkeys and deer coming in off his garage deck. He enjoyed sharing stories and talking current events with friends and family. John loved to travel. It might be as simple as following a 2 track anywhere in the U.P., hiking around the Grand Canyon, splashing in giant waves of the Mexican Riviera, or meeting folks in their villages in foreign lands. He loved music, mostly the oldies from the 50s, 60s and 70s and could usually recall the artists and years the records were hits!

John was a life member of the AMVETS Post 122. He had been active with the Color Guard for years, marching in parades and honoring other veterans. He spent many Wednesday evenings helping at work bees on the Post property and at the Annual Public Picnic. John was also a member of the Superiorland Woodturners. He enjoyed meeting with others interested in creative wood projects.

Surviving are his wife, Shelley (Logan) Ovink who he married in August 1969; three sons: Greg (April Racine) of Ferndale, Scott of Goose Creek, SC, and Michael (Melissa Swanson) Ovink of Ishpeming; two daughters: Valerie (Tom) Carraher and Lori (James) Salzwedel, both of Ishpeming; seven grandchildren: Nickolas, Benjamin and Abbigail Salzwedel, Maya and Emma Ovink, and Brei and Maddyson Ovink; his brother, Dennis Ovink of Negaunee; John was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Douglas.

A Special Thank You to the caring staff at Hematology/Oncology at UPHS and to Tony Lackey. Thank you to the many people who responded to the EMS call and tried to help John, including UPHS Unit #112, Marquette County Sheriff Deputies, Ely Township medical 1st responder and especially MSP Trooper Roger Bahrman for his kindness and offers to help with any needed veteran services connections.

A Celebration of John’s Life will be held this summer on Saturday afternoon, August 9 at the Ovink homestead. We hope to hear your stories and memories of John. He was a good man.

Mr. Ovink’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com.