John Alfred Savage, age 96, of Joliet, IL, formerly of Royal Oak, MI, and Manchester, MI, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 3, 2026 after a cascading constellation of the maladies of age.
He was born September 29, 1929, the son of Fred and Hazel (Kirk) Savage. John was a son, brother, uncle, great-uncle, husband, father, brother-in-law, grandfather, father-in-law, Sunday school teacher, choir member, Stephen Ministry Leader, President of Church Council, and Sharon Township Supervisor, but most of all, a dear friend to many.
John was born in Adrian, Michigan and graduated high school in Melvindale, Michigan. He attended Albion College and University of Toledo pursuing a degree in psychology and was an instructor for a few Psychology courses. It is in Toledo, while working at the Neighborhood House, he met the love of his life, Carol. They were married for almost 63 years before her passing.
John enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, serving two years, and was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland. He assembled and prepared details for morning reports and maintained personnel records for all hospital personnel and patients.
John and Carol got married on July 18, 1953 in the chapel of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio, and drove to Fort Meade, Maryland, where they lived until John was discharged from the Army. He worked for Willys Motors, Inc. in Toledo, OH, where he expedited purchased production materials from vendors. Next John worked for Libby Owens Ford Glass Company as a field representative in Toledo, OH.
John and Carol moved to Royal Oak, Michigan, where John worked as an Assistant to the President and CEO at Shatterproof Glass Corporation in Hamtramck, MI, and he remained there until 1977 while raising their two children with Carol. In 1969, the family moved to Manchester, Michigan. John got tired of the commute from Manchester to Hamtramck, so he took a Sales position at Double-A Products in Manchester and held several other positions until he retired in 1991.
He was an avid basketball cheerleader for both of his children’s basketball teams and won an award for his dedication. He enjoyed vegetable gardening while living in Manchester. He also took flying lessons and obtained his private pilot’s license flying a small Cessna. He was very active at Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea for 47 years and was recognized by the church as a “good and faithful servant.” He had a beautiful voice and sang many years in choirs at Peace Lutheran Church in Royal Oak, Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea, and lastly at First Presbyterian Church in Joliet, IL. John loved the opera too. John was elected to serve Sharon Township as a Supervisor from 1978 to 1992. He also was a member of the Manchester Optimist Club.
John was devoted to his wife, Carol, and their children. They took annual camping trips in northern Michigan every summer. John would hold flag raising ceremonies each morning and play his bugle (I can’t get them up and Taps). They vacationed out west for two weeks to Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons, and another summer out east to Bar Harbor, Maine. In retirement, he and Carol bought a motorhome and traveled extensively throughout the United States even driving to Alaska. They took it on a ferry to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia as well. John volunteered at the Chelsea Retirement Community for many years, running the store once a week, and was well liked by all of the staff and residents. He also volunteered at the front desk at Lightways Hospice in Joliet, IL prior to COVID. John was well liked by all he came in contact with.
He is survived by his son, John F. Savage; and daughter, Jan (Steve) Hannah; and three grandchildren, Zachary Hannah, Luke Hannah, and Madison Savage; as well as one nephew, Allan Kahl. Also surviving is his special friend of the last 10 years, Brenda Schmitz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Hazel Savage; wife, Carol (Heyn) Savage; sister, Dorothy Moon; brother, Robert Savage; and two nephews, Douglas Kahl and Michael Moon.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea, MI, with Pastor Kurt Hutchens officiating on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Chelsea, Michigan, First Presbyterian Church, Joliet, Illinois, or Lightways Hospice, Joliet, IL.
The family will receive friends at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 4-6 p.m., and at the church on Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
