John F. Stetler

John F. Stetler passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the Oaks at NorthPointe Woods.

John owned Stetler, Vanderveer & Associates, REALTORS until 2002. Under his leadership it went from a very small real estate brokerage firm to one of the leading real estate brokerage firms in Calhoun County.  Stetler formed Stetler Built Homes in 1970.   These two companies have developed Minges Farms Subdivision, Elsinore Lane, North Shore Place Condominiums on Goguac Lake, Hidden Forest and Huntington Hills, all in the Battle Creek Area.

He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1956 and from Michigan State University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Business.  He also holds an R.A.M. certificate in real estate from the University of Michigan. 

John married Patricia Ann “Patti” Bull in East Lansing, MI on May 3, 1958.  He was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife, Patti, on June 1, 2022. Surviving are their two daughters, Susan Stetler retired mathematics instructor at Kellogg Community College and Annette Stetler, president of Stetler Built Homes, Inc.  In addition to his wife, John was also preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Marion Stetler and a sister, Mary Ellen Vanderveer.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he was past chairman of the Board of Trustees.  He was chairman of the Board of Generation E an organization that taught young people how to have their own business.  He was a director and past president of the Winship foundation.  He was a past director on the Comerica Advisory Board of Directors.  He was a member of the City of Battle Creek's Zoning Board of Appeals as well as the Planning Commission.  He was a member and past president of the Battle Creek Association of Home Builders, where he was awarded the Hall of Fame Award.  He was a member of the Battle Creek Association of REALTORS where he was past president and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was past president of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce.  He served many years as a board member and officer of the Lakeview School Educational Foundation and Goguac Lake Association and was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek. 

John’s hobbies included tennis where he played in the Amy Yeast tournament for 19 years, woodworking where he built a grandfather clock for his wife and one for his daughter Annie, and three wooden kayaks, one for himself, one for his daughter Sue and one for a niece.  He was a British car enthusiast and owned two antique British cars and several Jaguars. He enjoyed many vacations with Patti and as a family with the girls.

Friends will be received 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care. A service to celebrate John’s life will be officiated by Rev. Pastor Lorenzo R. Small, Sr. at First Presbyterian Church 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to First Presbyterian Church, 111 Capital Avenue N.E., Battle Creek, MI. or an organization of your choice in John’s memory.

Personal messages for John’s family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.