John P. Higgins

John Patrick Higgins, age 77, beloved father, grandfather and brother, went home to be with his heavenly Father on Monday, July 19. He was the second oldest of 10 children born to Peter J. Higgins, Sr. and Marie T. (Burns) Higgins on August 23, 1932 in Gary, Indiana.
After high school John worked for several years as a railroad fireman for the EJ&E Company and a lineman for NIPSCO in the Gary steel mills. He then joined the Army and was a veteran of the Korean conflict in the 1950's. He took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Western Michigan University graduating in 1962 with a B.S. in Education. In addition to a full time teaching job at Selfridge Air Force Base and later the Detroit Public Schools, he went on to graduate Law school at the University of Detroit. He graduated in 1967 with a Juris Doctor of Law degree and brought his family to Midland and joined the Wilson & Stone Law Practice. During his career as a local attorney in Midland, he served as Midland Assistant City Attorney, an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Midland County, and then in his own general law practice for the remainder of his 42 years in practice. John was a member of the State Bar of Michigan and Disabled American Veterans. He was an active member of the Elks Club and enjoyed his antique car club and refurbishing his Graham classic car. John was an avid golfer and liked to take his daughter, Lisa, out for a round of golf where he consistently shot in the low 80s. The highlight of John's week was bringing Hamilton's pastries to Lisa's house every Saturday morning. The mornings were spent telling stories, reminiscing, and loving quality time with the girls. He loved watching sports and for many years held season tickets for U of M Big House football in Ann Arbor where the family would tailgate together. John also loved going up north and enjoyed the beauty of northern Michigan.
Surviving John is his only loving daughter, Lisa Marie (Dennis) Fales, three granddaughters, Christina Marie and fiancée Zachery Robertson, Leurissa Dey, and Allison Leigh, all of Midland, MI. Also surviving are five sisters and two brothers, Maureen (Richard) Kelner of Carmel, IN; Kathleen Shingle of Fenville, MI; Elizabeth (Ernie) Higgins-Hamer of McCork, NE; Theresa LeBlanc of McKinney, TX; Magdalene Higgins of Hammond, IN; James Higgins of Valparaiso, IN and Malachy Higgins of Valparaiso, IN. Many nieces and nephews also survive John.
Preceding him in death are his parents, oldest brother Peter J. Higgins, Jr. and youngest brother Kevin Higgins.
The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Saturday July 24, 2010 from St. Brigid of Klidare Catholic Church. Fr. Jose Parra and Deacon Aloysius J. Oliver will preside. The rite of committal will follow in Midland Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the Wilson MILLER Funeral Home on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm and at the church on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial may be offered to the family wishes. Personal messages of support may be offered to the family at www.wilson-miller.com