John Comer

John Patrick "Jack" Comer, 86, of Iron Mountain passed away on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at HCR Manorcare in Kingsford. He was born on August 10, 1925 in Buffalo, NY, son of the late Joseph and Anne (Connolly) Comer. Following graduation from high school at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, Jack enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII and served 2 years as an aviation cadet. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he attended college at the University of Michigan, School of Forestry and Conservation, receiving a B.S. in Wood Technology, followed by an MBA in Industrial Relations. His career included various positions of management in furniture and wood working factories. He served 20 years as Vice President and General Manager of the Foley Martens Company in Kingsford, retiring in 1995. He married Joann Pederson in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1976, and they have had more than 35 wonderful years together. Jack served for 23 years on the board of Trico Opportunities, 10 years on Dickinson County Hospital Board of Trustees, plus 12 years of volunteer work at the hospital and 3 years of service at the Medical Care Access Coalition. He was a member of St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church. He loved time spent with family, grandchildren's sporting events and the annual week-long Comer family reunions for 29 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Burke in 1968, brother and sister in-law, Hugh and Dolores Comer, brother, Thomas Comer, brother in-law, Donald Leopold, and a niece, Susan Leopold. Jack is survived by his wife, Joann Comer of Iron Mountain; daughters, Elizabeth (Tom) Zentz of New Palestine, Indiana, Pamela (Dennis) Carney of Traverse City, Michigan, Amelia (Cyrell) Baldwin of Perry, Michigan; sons Patrick (Linda) Comer of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, John (Donna) Comer of Plymouth, Minnesota, Timothy (Dawn) Comer of Niagara, Wisconsin; 15 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; stepson, David (Joelle) Swan of Forest Lake, Minnesota; stepdaughter, Elizabeth Cisne of Lincoln, Nebraska; 3 step grandchildren; sister, Sarah Leopold; sisters in-law, Eileen Comer of Williamsville, New York, Jane Jensen of Plainview, Nebraska; numerous nieces and nephews Visitation will be held on Saturday, from 9:00am to 11:00am at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain The funeral service will follow at 11:00am at the funeral home. Rev. David Anderson will officiate. In lieu of flowers a memorial will be established in his memory. Online condolences may be expressed to the family of John "Jack" Comer at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.