John Pinney, 95

John “Poppi” Franklin Pinney, age 95, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Sunday morning June 26, 2016, at Thurston Woods Village.
He was born Nov. 17, 1920, in Burr Oak, a son of the late Byard and Edith (Selby) Pinney.
John had been a resident of the Burr Oak and Sturgis area all his life except for a few years the family lived in Three Rivers.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II. After returning from the service, he went to work for Huntley-Van Buren, which became Sturgis Posture Chair, which became G.F. Business in Sturgis, where he was employed for 40 plus years before his retirement.
After retiring, he worked for Bill Haack Plumbing in Sturgis.
On Sept. 29, 1940, he married Mildred Meska. She preceded him in death in 1981. On July 23, 1982, he married Betty Kaser.
John was a former member of Sturgis Eagles Lodge and enjoyed watching TV, doing word and number puzzles, fixing things, was an avid Detroit Tigers fan and was a very handy person often helping anyone who needed it. He loved his grandchildren very much and they loved him, especially his sense of humor, his storytelling, his ability to make or fix anything, his amazing garden and the memory of him carrying his black lunch pail back and forth from work every day. He was a kind and gentle grandpa and will be missed by all.
Surviving are his wife, Betty; children Jerry (Maryjane) Pinney of Centreville, Steven John Pinney of Palm Springs, Calif., and Nancy (David) Hearld of Sturgis; grandchildren Jennifer (Eric) Wilen and their children Kathryn and Andrew John, all of Naperville, Ill., Mark Pinney and his children Isabel, Lourdes and Sinead, all of Las Vegas, Brian Hearld and his children Allison and Leah, all of Sturgis, Scott (Andrea) Hearld and their children Aubrey and Cassidy, all of Sturgis and Jeff (Ashley) Hearld and their children Coltan and Lucas all of Granger, Ind; a sister, Mary Burkhead of LaGrange, Ind.; friend and brother-in-law Don Morgenstern and his daughters, Jan, Kim, Ruth and Lin, who were very special to Poppi; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mildred; a brother, Robert Pinney; and three sisters, Arlene Burkhead, June Bunnell, and Lenore McElhenie.
According to his wishes, there will be no visitation or services, as cremation has taken place. A private family graveside service will take place at a later date in Burr Oak Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the charity of one’s choice . Envelopes are available at the Rosenberg Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis, which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.