Final Salute

LELAND – John Duane VanRaalte, 89, of Leland, passed away Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Bay Ridge Assisted Living in Traverse City.
John was born June 16, 1934 in Leland to John Kenneth and Luella Marie (Nelson) VanRaalte. After graduating from St. Mary School in Lake Leelanau with the Class of 1953, he joined the Navy Seabees where he was first stationed on Guam and then in Saint-Germain, France. In the Seabees he worked as a mechanic and in parts supply. While off-duty, he toured Europe and raced stock cars at tracks in France, pitting his skills against French and British drivers.
He returned to Leland in 1958 to work in and then run the family business, Van’s Garage, where he worked until the age of 85. He loved to help motorists in need and drive the wrecker to pull out cars (and other vehicles, including an airplane) from many sticky situations at all hours of the day and night. On April 23, 1960 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Leelanau he married Janice Elaine King of Detroit.
John was a member of the Leland Volunteer Fire Department for 52 years where he served as Captain, Assistant Chief, and Chief at various times and often manned the portable hydrant. He belonged to St. Mary Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. His love of all things automotive led him to work with classic cars both on the job and in his off hours. John enjoyed his 1959 Triumph TR3A, which was displayed every year at the Leland Classic Car Exhibition.
He belonged to the Twin Bay British Car Club and the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association. Over the years he was on pit crews at car and snowmobile races, including pitting for the winning team at the 1979 I-500 in Sault Ste. Marie. At the age of 70, he began racing his 1972 Mazda RX2 at tracks in Michigan and neighboring states. He had some excellent runs over the years until he parked his race car a little before turning 80. He also enjoyed woodworking, travel, golf, playing cards with family, and adventure, especially if it involved motorsports. He drove motorcycles, snowmobiles, dune buggies, and used his mechanical skills to construct snow-blowing equipment and pretty much any other motorized vehicle needed. Friends and family fondly remember his many stories.
Surviving are his three children, Christine (Eric) Johnson, John P. (Tracy), and Donna Hardwick (Jon Krupa); five grandchildren, Dan (Christine) McKee, Laura McKee, Jennifer (Travis) Homan, John H. (Abbigail) VanRaalte, Sara Hardwick; three great-granddaughters, one great-grandson on the way; one great-great-granddaughter; his four sisters, Sara Leeland, Virginia Logan, Elizabeth (Jerry) Clark, and Roselyn (Michael) Flannigan; and special niece Diane King.
Preceding him in death are his loving wife of 62 years, Janice VanRaalte who passed in February 2023, his parents, a sister, Nora Malloy, and his brothers-in-law, Tom Malloy and John Logan.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday November 2 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7:00 p.m. and a sharing of memories after the Rosary at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
The Mass of Christian Burial begins at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Leelanau with the family greeting friends at 10:00 a.m.. Fr. Ben Martin officiating. Burial will follow the church luncheon at the Swedish Mission Cemetery of Good Harbor.
Memorial contributions may be made to ShareCare of Leelanau, 7401 E. Duck Lake Road #600, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653-8701; St. Mary Catholic Church, PO Bo 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653; Hospice of Michigan, 10850 East Traverse Highway #3325, Traverse City, MI 49684-1363; and/or Leland Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD), PO Box 96, Leland, MI 49654.
Please share your condolences with the family at www.martinson.info.
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.
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