Obituary for John Nimitz Sr.
John Nimitz Sr. passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the age of 84.
John was born in Portage, Pennsylvania to parents, Andrew and Margaret Nimitz. He was raised alongside his sister, Marge.
Shortly after graduating from high school, John left Portage to join the Navy. He served his country honorably for 4 years. During that time, he spent 2 of those years sailing the Mediterranean on a destroyer. He was later stationed in Washington D.C. at Arlington Cemetery as part of the Honor Guard. During his service, he shared a surname with the well-known Admiral. Nimitz. Despite no direct relation, John didn’t mind if someone assumed he was related to the Admiral. John received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1963 and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal.
After the service, John lived a short time in Indiana and then he made his way to Ann Arbor because he decided to make roots somewhere that, “had a good sports team”. He worked in the automotive industry for 35 years, retiring from Associated Spring in Ann Arbor. John met his loving wife, Sally in the early 1990’s while she was riding her bike around the neighborhood at Scio Farms. She and John married in 1998. They very much enjoyed vacationing and taking trips to the casino together. They would often take trips to Florida in the winter and spend their anniversary in Las Vegas. Sally had family from Northern Michigan and John looked forward to the trips up north. John loved University of Michigan Football and Basketball and was excited that he was once able to attend the Rose Bowl and watch Michigan play. He also worked as an usher at both Michigan Stadium and the Chrysler Arena for a number of years. John took pride in his home and yard and spent his time keeping the landscape well-manicured and tending to various plantings. He also very much enjoyed playing euchre with Sally and friends.
John was a boisterous man who could strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. He also had a softer side which he shared mostly with Sally and those closest to him. John was a man of faith. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter. Even in his ill health, he still received Holy communion and held his faith close.
John is preceded in death by his sister, Marge Nimitz and parents Andrew and Margaret Nimitz.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Sally Nimitz; his children, John Nimitz Jr. and Sheri Nimitz; step-son, Paul Edward Tomshany III and his wife, Lisa; grandchildren, Tony and Justin Tomshany; brother-in-law, Edmond Richard; sister-in-law Carol Chaconas; nieces, Nichole and Alethea, their children, and faithful four-legged friend Coco
A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022 at St. Joseph Country Catholic Church, 6805 Mast Road, Dexter, Michigan 48130 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. A Memorial Mass will begin at 11:00 am and a burial of cremated remains will take place immediately following mass at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Donations in John's name may be made to Arbor Hospice or any charitable organization of your choosing.
The Nimitz family would like to thank those who assisted in the special care of John: Arbor Hospice, especially nurse Becky, Lisa and Beth of Our Family Friend Home Health Care, the Ann Arbor VA, and Regency of Whitmore Lake, including nurse Stephanie and Tara, as well as many extended family members and friends.
Please sign the Tribute Wall and share a memory of John.
John was born in Portage, Pennsylvania to parents, Andrew and Margaret Nimitz. He was raised alongside his sister, Marge.
Shortly after graduating from high school, John left Portage to join the Navy. He served his country honorably for 4 years. During that time, he spent 2 of those years sailing the Mediterranean on a destroyer. He was later stationed in Washington D.C. at Arlington Cemetery as part of the Honor Guard. During his service, he shared a surname with the well-known Admiral. Nimitz. Despite no direct relation, John didn’t mind if someone assumed he was related to the Admiral. John received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1963 and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal.
After the service, John lived a short time in Indiana and then he made his way to Ann Arbor because he decided to make roots somewhere that, “had a good sports team”. He worked in the automotive industry for 35 years, retiring from Associated Spring in Ann Arbor. John met his loving wife, Sally in the early 1990’s while she was riding her bike around the neighborhood at Scio Farms. She and John married in 1998. They very much enjoyed vacationing and taking trips to the casino together. They would often take trips to Florida in the winter and spend their anniversary in Las Vegas. Sally had family from Northern Michigan and John looked forward to the trips up north. John loved University of Michigan Football and Basketball and was excited that he was once able to attend the Rose Bowl and watch Michigan play. He also worked as an usher at both Michigan Stadium and the Chrysler Arena for a number of years. John took pride in his home and yard and spent his time keeping the landscape well-manicured and tending to various plantings. He also very much enjoyed playing euchre with Sally and friends.
John was a boisterous man who could strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone. He also had a softer side which he shared mostly with Sally and those closest to him. John was a man of faith. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter. Even in his ill health, he still received Holy communion and held his faith close.
John is preceded in death by his sister, Marge Nimitz and parents Andrew and Margaret Nimitz.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Sally Nimitz; his children, John Nimitz Jr. and Sheri Nimitz; step-son, Paul Edward Tomshany III and his wife, Lisa; grandchildren, Tony and Justin Tomshany; brother-in-law, Edmond Richard; sister-in-law Carol Chaconas; nieces, Nichole and Alethea, their children, and faithful four-legged friend Coco
A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022 at St. Joseph Country Catholic Church, 6805 Mast Road, Dexter, Michigan 48130 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. A Memorial Mass will begin at 11:00 am and a burial of cremated remains will take place immediately following mass at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Donations in John's name may be made to Arbor Hospice or any charitable organization of your choosing.
The Nimitz family would like to thank those who assisted in the special care of John: Arbor Hospice, especially nurse Becky, Lisa and Beth of Our Family Friend Home Health Care, the Ann Arbor VA, and Regency of Whitmore Lake, including nurse Stephanie and Tara, as well as many extended family members and friends.
Please sign the Tribute Wall and share a memory of John.