LAEMMEL, John      Age 67 of Taylor

Beloved Husband of Sandra, for 47 years.

Loving Father of John (Kristin) and Julie (Justin) Watts.

Dearest  Papa of Jenna, Lily, Justin Jr. and Destiny

Dear Brother of Thomas (Mary Jane), Robert (Patricia), Jerry "Rocky", Penny (Tommy) and the late Bonnie and James.

Loving Uncle to many Nieces and Nephews.

John was born to Howard and Grace Laemmel in 1956 in Wyandotte, Michigan.  He grew up and went to school in Romulus and Taylor, Michigan.  At 5 years old John was hit by a car, to which he attributed his lifelong struggle with back pain.  Although I suspect the years of hard work, a few motorcycle bumps and bruises did not help. Nonetheless, John's Dad moved the family to the country, at that time, Romulus, Michigan.  John had a lifetime of stories in the short period he lived in Romulus, for when John was ten years old, his dad only thirty-nine, passed away from a long-suffered illness.  Grace moved her family of four children all under thirteen back to Taylor and so we will begin…….

John was the second oldest, so he and brother Bob had to grow up fast.  The two boys who had a younger brother Jerry and little sister Penny had to learn the skill of becoming a successful adult at a very early age.  From the stories told, Grace had her hands full.  John was skillful and very talented in fixing everything, in fact he could fix her car so good that it wouldn't start when time to go to work, she would get a ride, he would jump in the car a cruise the neighborhood until time for her to come home, even removing the miles from the odometer so she couldn't tell.  I'm sure he never outsmarted her, but he may have thought he did.  His love and skills of all things with wheels, began with bicycles, the cars, then fast cars and even faster cars.  All powered by the engines he built and put in in a one car garage.  Then came the motorcycles, fast motorcycles and yes faster motorcycles. Somewhere he also took a liking to boats, no wheels, but the faster the better.  Now bring on the tractors, the older the better, slow but powerful, loud and green, John Deere Green.  Now arrive the trucks, pickups, dual wheel pickups, and bigger trucks, louder trucks and project trucks. Mater, Mr. Ugly, Red and Murphy are all in the fleet.

Now remember the bicycles, well that chrome shiny bike with the handlebars custom fit, would catch the eye of the girl 6 doors down, not to mention the long blond haired, blue eyed, handsome young man who offered her a ride on those handlebars.  That was 1971 and that's where John and Sandy began, later to be married in 1976.  Oh, what a life they shared and the stories that could be told.  Many of their friends and family shared it with them, and they each have a story to tell, some many more than one.

In 1981 a son was born, John Jr, many of you know as J. J, Johns "Minnie me" was at his dad's side on the first day he arrived and was with him on the day John left this earth, and most days in between. They spent countless hours in the Old Man's Garage from the time J could walk until just a few days ago.  As time moved on, they had two different minds but one goal, Mom usually in the middle helping make it work.  They both knew the project was not as important as the time being spent together.  Their excursions could take them anywhere, last summer way up north to a truck show, with brother Bob.  That was a good day for all.  Always a story to tell when they returned, two different versions, but always a great adventure.

In 1988 a daughter was born, had she been a son, she would have been named David Bradley, after a tractor.  Julie is and has been her dad's sidekick during his retirement years, more like him every day. Julie and Johns best days were when they spent them together.  Sometimes it was as simple as watching TV together.  Other days, they did the grocery shopping together.  Only J and Julie could shop with John, he was a site to be seen in the store. Julie and John worked in the garden boxes J built him together, John tending to his tomatoes, potatoes, corn, pumpkins, peppers and a few other "plants".  They enjoyed their seafood boils like no one else and tried to share them as often as possible, none of us would partake.  Most of all they enjoyed being there for each other, days spent in life making memories that will last a lifetime.

John was very proud of both of his children, being a husband and a father was one of many things he was very good at.  He was a natural, always there, always willing, always sharing and always caring. To John, family and friends were everything. A hard worker and good provider, he was the best of the best.  John never met a stranger, and a friend became a friend for life, you know that if you were friends with John.  Not one to call on the phone, but he did learn the art of texting in his retirement years.

John spent his career in the automotive industry, from fourteen in neighborhood gas stations, to local auto repair shops in his late teens, to auto dealerships in his twenties, to General Motors in the eighties, back to the dealerships and then to Ford Motor Company.

John retired in 2011, by then he was three years into his new adventure, one that gave him a new title, Papa. John was a great Dad, but he made the Papa title fit the man like no other.  His grand children were his world.  If you think J and Julie were his clones, Jenna and Lily, his new sidekicks will show us all a whole new side of John.  From cooking in the kitchen, to going to the nail salon, yes, they all got a pedi/mani.  As the girls grew older, they taught John every day.  They taught him how to watch YouTube on the TV, and from that day on that was an enjoyment of his everyday life. A short time later a grandson arrives, Justin Jr, . John enjoyed telling Justin stories about everything and teaching him everything he could.  From fixing things, to which tools were which and what each tool was used for. Working on wood projects in the garage. They talked bikes, motorcycles, cars, tractors, trucks and so much more.  But the relationship went both ways, Justin was going to make a football player out of John. Teaching him the plays and showing him the moves.  They were working on these skills as recent as a few weeks ago in the front yard. Time well invested in each other, making those memories. Destiny arrived and began to work magic on John as well.  With her teenage wit and his senior citizen views, it always made for interesting conversation with laughter and love and frankly quite a joy to watch evolve.

With J and Julie having grown into adults, John got a bonus when Justin joined the family, a new son in law, one who had been in the picture since he was about fourteen. This was followed by Kristin joining the family as J's partner in life who had also been in the picture since about age twelve. John always said it must run in the family.

While John was gifted with many nicknames he was often referred to as the Charlie Daniels of the torque wrench.  And around any pool table he was Minnesota Fats – John was the best in all he did.

As time moved on John and Sandy became Walter and Wanda. J and Julie became Wally and Lil Wanda. If you ask his children and grandchildren where Walter came from, they will be glad to share.  The rest of us were given our new names by none other than Walter himself.

As one door closes another shall open. John would tell us all – no tears, only happy memories.  He loved his family and friends.  Time with his dogs and toys brought him joy.  He loved to tinker. But most of all John loved life.  As his body slowed and begin to fail him his mind never stopped. Always a new project for him and J, always a new adventure for him and Julie, the last one driving around and around for an old truck he saw on Van Born Road, they never found it, so he took me the following day, we didn't find it either.  Some projects were completed others left undone but John's life legacy will continue through his family – we all learned to know John was to love him – to have him in our lives was a true gift from God or "Louie" as John so fondly referred to him.  He left this world a better man as a result of all whose path he crossed and we are left as knowing we had the best husband, Dad, Papa, brother, Uncle and friend anyone could have ever been given.