John H. Halter

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved father, John Henry Halter, age 71, in March 2025. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, on July 10, 1953 to Jakob and Dorothy Halter. John grew up in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, where he attended Whiteford Agricultural Schools with his siblings. A millwright by trade, John worked for Tenneco Automotive for 29 years, where he made a number of close friends. He was a lifelong resident of the greater Toledo area until late 2024 when he moved to Lewiston, Michigan to fulfill his vision of a northern Michigan retirement.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Thomas, Ricky, and Norman Halter. He is survived by his two daughters, Katie and Lauren Halter; his brothers Roy, Edward (Jody), Karl, and James Halter; as well as his sister Carolyn Bryan.

John left his imprint on the world with his art and craftsmanship. A creative spirit at heart, John was a self-trained artist with a wide variety of interests. His many talents included photography, drawing, painting, metal sculpting, woodworking, and playful creative writing. He was always tinkering with ideas, crafting projects, and thinking of ways to put his own spin on a design. He was excited to pursue his art full-time in retirement, with plans to construct his dream workshop with a forge.

When John wasn't working on a creative project he often enjoyed pursuing other hobbies and spending time with family and friends. He was passionate about collecting coins and instruments, drafting schematics and engineering prototypes of tools, and reminiscing with his favorite music. Those who knew him best remember John as a passionate speaker and storyteller who loved to weigh in on politics, "talk shop" about projects, and indulge his loved ones with jokes, wordplay, and family lore. Family and friends will cherish memories of his humor, loyalty, and acts of service.

A celebration of life will be held at Social Event Space, 2852 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43613, on Sunday May 4 from 1:30-4:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, the Toledo Museum of Art, or Lansing's ScrapFest.