John Svendsen, 78

John Thorvald Svendsen, age 78, formerly of Greenville, Sturgis and Grand Rapids, passed away at his home March 18, 2021, at Samaritas.
He was born May 11, 1942, in Greenville, the son of Allison R. and Agnes (Lansing) Svendsen. He graduated as salutatorian of Greenville High School with the class of 1960 and furthered his education at University of Michigan, graduating with distinction, receiving his A.B. in 1965 and his J.D. in 1967 and was recipient of the Barristers Society Award. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar, Indiana Bar, admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court. He was a founding member of Bird, Svendsen, Brothers, Scheske and Pattison P.C. Attorneys at Law in Sturgis, a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, St. Joseph County Bar Association (President 1970-71), City Attorney of Sturgis, Founder and Executive Director – The Institute for Comparative Analysis. He also was a member of Kiwanis Club of Sturgis since 1968, receiving a number of awards for his service, Board of Directors Sturgis Area Community Foundation, past Board member of ARCH Workshop, Sturgis Jr. Achievement, Sturgis Public Schools Endowment Fund, Sturgis Lodge #1381 BPOE, recipient of Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award and a Rotary Group Study Exchange Participant.
From his own observations of his life: He had never married, and to his dying day, he was unsure whether that was a benefit or a detriment. Cars were his passion, and he had owned as many as seven simultaneously, although in later years, that number had diminished to three, as his youthful energy eroded. He had a large automotive library, his claimed area of special expertise being American cars from 1928 to 1971, as to which he could discourse at interminable length. He was sorry he sold his 1968 Dart GTS, his Porsche 914 and his Hudson, and always had wanted a Packard and flatbed Ford. His favorite vehicle was his beloved 1986 Mazda RX-7 “Hiroshi,” the only one that ever had a name, because never having a car with an automatic transmission was a particular point of pride.
His interest in cars led to an enthusiasm for travel. He not only had visited each of the 50 states, but had stayed overnight in all of them (and for more than one night everywhere except Rhode Island, Mississippi and North Dakota). He and “Hiroshi” had made the Route 66 trip three times, once all the way to the Santa Monica pier, and as far as Arizona on two occasions. (Hiroshi has been in 39 states). Long-distance train trips were a special treat and, over the years, he managed to cover 95% of the Amtrak system. A unique accomplishment was having visited all 83 county courthouses in Michigan and finally he had been to 19 foreign countries.
He is survived by his special son, Kevin H. Keith and his wife, Deb Kollar Keith, of Kalamazoo; a sister, Sally Svendsen Farabee of Holland; nieces Molly (Clayton) Davis and children Quincy and Cleo of Surprise, Ariz.; Megan (Eric) Peterson and children Calla and James of Holland; grandchildren Simon Keith of Winston-Salem, N.C., Miriam (Brandon) Kennedy and great-grandchild Finnigan of Madison, Wis., and Madeline Keith of Hazel Park.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother-in-law, David A. Farabee.
Private funeral services are to be held Friday, April 2, 2021, at Hurst Funeral Home, with burial in Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Svendsen Family Fund at Greenville Area Community Foundation, 101 N. Lafayette St. Greenville, MI 48838.