John H. Spelman

Jack Spelman (John Henry Spelman) passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday October 13th. Of late, Jack had enjoyed gathering with friends, family and colleagues for lunch. Jack was born February 28th, 1921 in South Haven Michigan and was a proud Michigander all 83 years. He attended Michigan State College; and he served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army’s last horse calvary in the European theatre, (10th Arm’d dev); and then attended law school at the University of Michigan. Upon graduation, he drove along the west coast of Michigan and elected to join Joe Killian practicing in Saint Joseph where he was elected Prosecuting attorney and then remained in private practice for fifty four years. His practice included representing over a dozen Southwestern Michigan townships, one of the last great forms of American government. Jack was the first to enforce the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) in the United States. when he succeeded in obtaining an injunction against mining of sand dunes by Manley Brothers Mining which intended to make engine block castings from the sand dunes which had taken 60,000 years to wind sift along Lake Michigan. Jack married Jean Cummings Collingwood in 1947 and together they created a family and contributed generously to Berrien County in a wide variety of ways. Jack and Jean were active in the Saint Joseph Congregational Church, the St Joseph River Yacht Club, Fort Miami Society, and the Republican Party, and the annual Christmas Tree Hunt on the Spelman Blueberry Farm. Dinner parties at the Jack and Jean Spelman’s house, both on Brown School Road and on Ridgeway, were known for collaborative and convivial conversation over thick steaks and plentiful, local vegetable dishes. In addition to his wife, Jean, Jack leaves his son Michael of Tecumseh and Michael’s wife Lorie (Lape) and four grandchildren Todd (wife Monica Mendez), David, Kate and Henry; and his daughter, Kate of San Francisco. Preceding Jack in death were his son, John Houston Spelman (who is survived by his children, Kate and Henry); his brother Phillip O. Spelman; and his parents Ohel and Gertrude (Englesby) Spelman. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the Fort Miami Historical Society, The St Joseph Junior Foundation or The First Congregational Church. A memorial service celebrating and honoring the life of Jack and his family will be held Sunday, October 17th at 2:30 pm at the First Congregational Church in Saint Joseph.