John Alfred Morse Jr.

1939 - 2017

John Alfred Morse, Jr.

2/26/1939 – 5/8/2017

The family of John A. Morse, Jr. is saddened to announce his passing on May 8, 2017 in Perrysburg after a brief illness.

John was born on February 26, 1939 in Plainfield, New Jersey, and was the eldest child to John, Sr. and Adelaide Morse. The Morse family relocated to Perrysburg in the early 1950's. John spent his adolescent years as a caretaker for the polo horses of the Carranor Club and during many summer months worked at dude ranches in Wyoming. John graduated from Perrysburg High School in 1957 where he excelled on the football gridiron. While in high school, John met his future wife, Karen Havener, and they were married in June, 1960.

John began his college education at Duke University before eventually completing his degree at The Ohio State University. John's older two children, Brad and Reneé, were born in Columbus, while his third child, Brian, was born in Oregon, Ohio.

In the early 1960's, the Morse family returned to Perrysburg where the children were raised through their high school years. John was employed at several executive recruiting agencies in downtown Toledo before embarking in his own recruiting business, Morse - Braden & Associates, which was located in the Spitzer Building.

John relocated to his favorite venue, New York City, in the mid 1980's. John (better known as Jack in NYC) worked at several financial publication firms in various positions while, at the same time, thoroughly enjoying all the benefits and advantages that a New York lifestyle had to offer. He often spent many extended weekends with his children and grandchildren at the Morse family cottage on Lake Winola, Pennsylvania.

When John's health began to falter in 2013, he returned to his hometown of Perrysburg to be near his family. John was able to spend his final years enjoying the numerous events and athletic endeavors of his grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, James and Peter, as well as his ex-wife, Karen. He is survived by his sister Meredith Prime (Lake Placid, New York); his children, Bradley (Perrysburg), Reneé (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), and Brian (Jill) (Perrysburg); as well as his seven grandchildren, Nick, Ted, Meredith, Alex, Bella, Maggie, and Isabel.

In honor to John's request, there will be no services or open visitation. A memorial to celebrate John's life will be announced at a later date. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg (419-874-3133). For persons wishing to express their condolences, John requested a donation be made to WGTE – PBS in Toledo, Ohio. Condolences may be made online to the family at www.witzlershank.com.

As Jack would say when saying goodbye, "Catch you on the rebound."