John Edward Koewers II

John Edward Koewers II of the City of Wyoming, Michigan, born November 4, 1968, passed away peacefully while taking a nap on his sofa on September 27, 2021. 

At the age of 13 John began working weekends for his stepfather, Dave Cossin, at Northland Tool and Die. There he learned a great deal about the tool and die industry and discovered what could be done with a piece of steel.  He got in trouble when he took one of the pieces of steel to school to show his friends.  The school principal perceived the chunk steel as a weapon and John was suspended from school for a couple of days.

Of course, a the  suspension didn’t dampen his spirits. About a year later he set off bottle rockets at the school bus stop and was again suspended.

After graduating from high school John joined the Marines and was stationed at El Toro Airbase in California. He advanced to the rank of Lance Corporal and was always proud of his Marine service.  Semper Fi!  While in California John enjoyed being the fun-in-the-sun, cool blond haired guy. 

After his military service John earned a degree from ITT in computer-aided design and worked as a tool designer and as a tool and die maker at various companies.  He also taught his stepfather Dave Cossin, then owner of Northland Tool and Die, how to design dies and tools using AutoCAD software.

In his later years John was diagnosed as bipolar.  Medications prevented him from working but he was fortunate that his mother invited him to live in the house that she grew up in.  John was happy and comfortable in the house since he had spent a great deal of time there with his grandpa as a youngster,  just tinkering with things, going fishing, and enjoying his status as the only grandson in the family.

John loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed exploring the Baldwin area.  He could frequently be seen walking with a very large and loving dog at his side.

John could and would talk to everyone and make friends on the spot.  He attracted a large network of friends who knew they were always welcome at his home and could just drop in for a cup of coffee most any time.

Hosting backyard cookouts  was one of John’s favorite pastimes.  His home became the gathering place on holidays for family and friends.  He always cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving and a ham for Christmas.  After all, John was the best cook in the family.

Every summer he grew tomatoes for his mother and hot peppers for his nephews and himself.  John and his nephews had contests to see who could eat the hottest peppers, bringing back memories of when they were younger and burped the alphabet at the kitchen table.

John is survived by his mother, Mary Koewers of Grand Rapids, Michigan, his father, John E. Koewers, of  Marcellus, Michigan, and his daughter Harley Allen, her two children Zachary and Kieri.   He is also survived by his sisters, Deanna Markham and Kimberly Koewers, as well as his stepbrothers Matt and Mike Koewers.

John had five nephews and one niece.  Charles, Timothy and Andrew Koewers, and Kassie, Scott and Daniel Smith.  There are several great nieces and nephews as well: Aaron Koewers, Kaden Koewers, Savannah, Alex, and Foster Purtell, and Avery, Adalynn and Axton Smith.

John will be laid to rest at the Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan.  Rest in Peace, John.  We love you and we will miss you.

There will be “Celebration of Life” gathering on Saturday, October 2, 2021 beginning at 2:00 pm and ending when there are no more John stories to be told.  It will be held in John’s backyard at 53 Holly Street, SW, Wyoming, Michigan.  He will be there in spirit.

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