John Alexander Garrettson, Sr., was born on 28 October 1916 in Indiana.
1,2,3 He and
Elizabeth (Bettie) Painter were married on 3 August 1940 in Monroeville, Allen, Indiana.
1 He died on 23 September 2010, at age 93, in Sun City Center, Hillsborough, Florida.
3 He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Michigan City, La Porte, Indiana.
3 John Alexander Garrettson, Sr., was educated in Purdue University Mechanical Engineering.
4 He was an Engineer/ President of Merchants National Bank. John Alexander Garrettson
October 28, 1916 - September 23, 2010
John Alexander Garrettson Sr., 93, of Sun City Center, Fla., formerly of Michigan City, died Thursday Sept. 23, 2010 at his daughter Judy Dederick's home in Philadelphia, Pa. A celebration of life will be on Friday Oct. 1, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Don Dempsey officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.. at the Carlisle Funeral Home. Interment will be private in Greenwood Cemetery.
Mr. Garrettson was born Oct. 28, 1916, in Michigan City, the son of Robert F. and Grace (Boyd) Garrettson. On Aug. 3, 1940 in Monroeville, Ind., he was united in marriage to the former Elizabeth "Bettie" Painter. She died in 2001 after 61 years of marriage. He was the grandson of Alexander A. Boyd and Edith Culbertson Boyd; their daughter Grace was John's mother. Surviving are his children, Judith Garrettson Dederick of Philadelphia, John A. Garrettson Jr. of Philadelphia; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Matthew) Dederick Giordano of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and John "Jed" Emery Dederick of Brooklyn, N.Y. Also surviving are three nephews, one niece, five great nephews, four great nieces, three great-great nephews and six great-great nieces. Mr. Garrettson was also expecting a great-grandchild on his birthday in October. He was preceded by a brother, Robert F. Garrettson Jr. and sisters, Jane Louise Garrettson and Mary Griswold.
His companion, Ella Herman survives in Sun City Center, Fla. He attended Jefferson Elementary and Isaac C. Elston Junior and Senior High Schools and graduated from Purdue University with a BS in mechanical engineering in 1938. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta National Fraternity and received an honorary doctorate for service to the University in helping found Purdue North Central campus south of Michigan City. Horizon Bank gives a John A. Garrettson award each year. He received many awards and recognitions from the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and other civic organizations. He was extremely active in his community including First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City where he was an ordained elder and at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Sun City Center, Fla. He was trained and worked as an engineer until 1953 when he and his family returned to Michigan City to join the family business which was the Merchants National Bank. He succeeded his brother Bob there as president and retired in 1979. He and his family moved often when he was an engineer, but they were thrilled to come back to Michigan City where he lived until his wife's death in 2001; he then moved to Sun City Center, Fla. John's interests included travel and sports activities, especially golf. He also was very involved in civic work and extensive church service. He also served as president of the advisory council at Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center. He founded a shelter for battered women in Michigan City, founded the counseling center at First Presbyterian Church, envisioned and developed with Robert Schwartz the Purdue North Central campus near Michigan City, and volunteered at a mission for migrant workers in Sun City Center. While Bettie restored the Barker Mansion in Michigan City, he worked to turn it into Barker Civic Center. They both served on the board of the Barker Foundation. He served on many other corporate boards as well. He was known for his sense of humor, wisdom and his unwillingness to be angry. He was grateful for what he considered to be his very privileged life and believed with all his heart that it was his responsibility to "give back". In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City.