John "Jack" Holmes, a resident of Southfield, Michigan, died on July 9th, 2022 at the age of 75. Funeral services arranged by The Dorfman Chapel.
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Jack was born in Louisville, Kentucky and after a move to Alabama came north with his family to Ann Arbor. He obtained a BA from The University of Michigan and entered the Army and served overseas during the VietNam War. After honorably completing his service he started law school and obtained his JD at The University of Kentucky. He moved home to Ann Arbor and started practice in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office (ironic considering his subsequent path and great success as a criminal defense attorney).
He began practice as a medical malpractice defense attorney in Detroit (another ironic, though fateful move, since that is how he and his wife met as opponents).He truly changed her life and gave her the most blessed gift of all - four children - two that he brought into the marriage and two more of their own together.
Jack found his true calling as an attorney when he began to focus his legal talents on criminal defense work and became deeply involved in developing and serving as a participant in the Oakland County Drug Treatment Court. His compassion for his clients and his devotion to justice, even for those who were not always appreciative of his efforts, allowed him to provide stellar representation for many who never could have afforded to hire someone of his caliber. He also found a group of devoted and similarly-minded colleagues (the “banana bunch”) who he respected and loved like family and joined together to help each other survive a very challenging practice.
In his limited “free time,” Jack most enjoyed his time at his lakeside cottage in Lewiston. It was his piece of heaven on earth and brought him true contentment. He and his dad built the cottage in the 1970’s and it really held nothing but wonderful memories and experiences for him. He was beyond delighted to see that his daughter Jordan and her husband David shared his love for this very special place.
Jack was an avid fly fisherman and loved gardening (a talent shared by his son, Josh) and has altered the balance of wildlife in his very suburban Southfield home by maintaining varied bird and wildlife feeders (a love and talent also shared by his daughter Sara).
As his wife, writing about him in the third person seems odd and so please indulge me in these final thoughts. I already miss him. I started missing him the moment that the EMS arrived at our home on Father’s Day to take him to the hospital. We fought very hard to keep our marriage and family together over the years and it was all worth it. He was always supportive and helpful in the good way - the way that doesn’t come along with him telling you about how supportive and helpful he was. He was a great companion and loving partner and understood that you can NEVER finish the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle that was started by someone else.
He would have been truly surprised by all of the wonderful, warm messages we have received for him - he was a humble man.
I really do hope that his heartfelt beliefs are true and that he is with his dear Carrie and parents and waiting for all of us to join him for eternity. “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Rest in peace, Jack. You are much loved.
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