John Klumpp

CHAMPAIGN - John David Klumpp, 88, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. John was a cancer survivor and had battled COVID-19 and diabetic complications for several years.

John was born at Munson Hospital in Traverse City, Mich., to John and Margrethe Klumpp of Kalkaska, Mich. He spent his early years in Kalkaska and graduated from Kalkaska High School in 1955 as salutatorian. In 1959, he graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science. John worked for 30 years at the Michigan State Highway Department as an urban planner. Later, the highway department became multimodal, and John served as a regional planning coordinator for the Muskegon and Bay City/Saginaw urban areas. He was a registered community planner.

John worked out of Lansing and East Lansing, Mich., and specialized in real-estate ventures along the Michigan Avenue corridor between the two cities.

On Oct. 10, 1971, John married Alice Marie (Goble) Long in Charlotte, Mich. Born Sept. 20, 1939, she passed away on Feb. 18, 1992, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Leslie, Mich.

John's parents, aunts and uncles have predeceased him.

John is survived by his daughter, Alicia Maria Klumpp (friend Bryan Shirk); sister, Karen Mary (Klumpp) LaFave; and special friend, Cheri Anderson.

John was able to trace his ancestry back to the Norwegian Vikings and to the second oldest highlander clan in Scotland, the MacAlisters.

John worked on archaeological digs out of the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, where canoes were used to reach the prehistoric excavation sites along the Tittabawassee River.

It was an exciting time to be involved in archaeology, and many new discoveries were made. During his career, John reported 33 prehistoric sites to the state archaeologist along with artifacts and maps.

After moving back up north, John served as president of the Traverse City and Paul Bunyan shire clubs. He rode in northern parades with the Shriner Trike Patrol. While living in the East Lansing area, John served as Master of East Lansing Masonic Lodge 480 three times. He played trumpet in the Saginaw Temple Concert Band and Polka Band. He played in the Lansing VFW Post 6132 Dance Band and toured with their clown band.

John served as president of the Ingham County Historical Commission and wrote a guide for the county courthouse tours and conducted courthouse tours. He was active with the Masons and Eastern Star in East Lansing, and also with East Lansing Rainbow Girls activities, serving as Rainbow Dad and receiving the Cross of Color Medal, and later was an officer with the Charlevoix Chapter. Served as president of the Grand Valley Chapter of the Michigan Archeological Society at the MSU Museum. He served on the board of the Michigan Archeological Society as a trustee and a term of first vice president.

A funeral service will be held at Kalkaska Funeral Home, 152 S. Cedar St., Kalkaska, on Friday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning one hour prior. Burial will take place following the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home.