SEESE, JOHN DAVID
March 28, 1947 – June 29. 2025

    John grew up on Center Road of the Old Mission Peninsula.  His father operated a gas station where John helped, and during high school and college he pumped gas at the Mutual Station with his friend Jim Olmstead. (Who tragically died too soon.) Primarily, John worked summers with his father Ray and Uncle Roy at Murray’s Boats and Motors and then at the Elk Rapids Marine. John became expert at tuning up and repairing outboard motors. (As an adult, he supplemented his income working at hardware and big box stores working on small engines.) John also built small catamaran motor boats which he raced around East Bay powered by a Mercury outboard motor with a Quick Silver lower unit.

John attended the Old Mission Grade School, and then TCHS graduating in 1965.  He then went to Northwestern Michigan Junior College.  He worked for chemistry professors Gahn and Rudd as a laboratory technician, along with Carl Van Conant.  He proved to be very proficient at chemistry, and decided to make that his profession.

John next went to Central Michigan University, continuing a course of study in Chemistry.  He also met and married Linda, a grade school teacher.  (Carl Van Conant was best man at their wedding.)

Uncle Sam called upon him to do a hitch in the Navy.  His job was to send coded messages to spy ships and Black Bird aircrafts, while stationed in Okinawa.  Linda taught at the base school and made more money than Jon! This allowed them to live modestly off base. He then went to the Arctic Circle in Alaska, while Linda came back to the States.

John and Linda moved back to Traverse City where Linda taught School and John worked on chemically treating paper for an early color copy machine design.  They then moved to Rogers City, continuing his work with chemically treating paper.  Eventually, they moved to Des Moines Iowa where john formulated paints.  John worked for a while as a teachers aide working with handicapped children, allowing them to attend regular school, From there, they moved to Apache Junction Arizona and retired.  Finally, they moved to Riverview Florida to be near their son, daughter and grandchildren.

Growing up, the Seese family never went to church.  God and religion were not a part of John’s life. When John and Linda began dating, that changed.  John became a very devout Christian, and raised his children accordingly.  Late in life, John facilitated church services in RV parks.  He also acted as a guide reading and understanding the books of the bible.  He did not claim to be a minister or teacher, but just a guide who had read many books on religion to be knowledgeable about the application of the scripture to our current situation.  He was at peace with the lord when he passed on.

John was predeceased by his parents, and survived by his wife Linda, son, daughter, and grandchildren.   He is lovingly remembered and missed.

Note: Written by Carl Van Conant, his friend of 66 years.

Posted By: Administrator - 07-22-2025
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