John Moran Simmerer

John Moran Simmerer, July 28, 1949, age 74.
Born to the late Margaret "Mugs" Moran Simmerer and H. Jack Simmerer, he was named for his grandfather, Edward John Moran. Cherished brother of Martha "Marney" Ramsey (Jim), Daniel Simmerer, MaryAnn Simmerer and the late Susan "Suze" Markland. Uncle to Elizabeth Hawkins Diephouse (Kyle), Sarah Hawkins, Andrew Lewis, Jake Lewis and the late David Markland. Great-uncle to Lily Lewis, Frank Lewis, Ruby Lewis and Evie Lewis. Brother-in-law to James Ramsey. After defiantly confronting colon cancer for much of his life, John Simmerer quietly left the hospital where he had been confined for six months for a better place. Despite his departure, he will never leave our hearts, our minds or our memory. The day of John's passing - Father's Day, 2024 - is ironic because he never married, never had children; yet almost everyone who knew him remarked on what a great father he would have been. He was thoughtful, soft-spoken, charitable and caring, and he willingly transferred his kindliness to his family and friends. His hero, if you rule out certain Red Wing hockey players like Bob Probert and Joe Kocur, was probably Blessed Solanus Casey, the revered Capuchin monk whom he faintly resembled as his beard grew longer and his hairline retreated. A lifelong Grosse Pointe resident and U.S. Navy Seabee veteran, John was born in in Detroit, graduated from Austin Prep School and received his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. He followed his other hero, his father Jack Simmerer, into the insurance business in 1973, but quickly realized he was not cut out to be a life insurance salesman. He entered Detroit College of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1979. He practiced his entire 45-year law career as an insurance litigator at Sullivan, Ward, Patton, Gleeson & Felty. Faithfulness and faith were two more of John's trademark qualities. He served as an usher at St. Paul on the Lake for 15 years until he entered the hospital in January of this year. John Simmerer never wore his religion on his sleeve, but he was strong in his faith and tried to live his life according to Christian principles. Among the many things he loved was the water. He owned several go-fast boats on Lake St. Clair (although he always drove them prudently, well below their 75-mph capacity). In 2017, he achieved his lifelong dream of owning a cottage on Lake Huron. Conventional advice told him to tear the dilapidated old Harbor Beach house down, but that was not John's way. Together with his brother Dan, they restored the place piece by piece until it was an object of pride. Their work was nearly complete when John's cancer returned. John Simmerer's life can be summed up with the word "good." He was a good man who lived a good life, who brought good to the many people he knew and loved. He leaves behind a home, a cottage, a mid-engine C8 Corvette, a monster-tired Ford Bronco, a lifetime of family photos he recorded with his trusty cameras, and his beloved golden retriever, Maggie Mae. He is gone, but never forgotten. A visitation will be held Wednesday June 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Chas. Verheyden, Inc, 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park, followed on June 27 with a 10: 00 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Paul on the Lake, 157 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Solanus Casey Center, Attn. Fr. Steve Kropp, Director, 1780 Mt. Elliott St., Detroit, MI 48207.