Obituary of Jan Stewart Graham
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Age 51, of Flushing, went to be with his Saviour on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at McLaren-Flint. A celebration of Jan’s life will take place at 1:00 pm, Monday, April 26, 2021, at the Flint Central Church of the Nazarene, with burial to follow at Flint Memorial Park Cemetery. Pastor Jim Harvey to officiate. The family will be present at the church, to receive friends, from 11:00 am until the time of service. Those desiring may direct memorial contributions to Jan’s children's college funds. Envelopes will be available at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be shared on Jan’s tribute page at martinfuneralhome.com.
Jan was born in Flint, on September 15, 1969, the son of James Willard and Donna Belle (Stewart) Graham. Educated locally, Jan graduated from Clio High School with the Class of 1987. He went on to Mott Community College where he obtained his associate degree in Criminal Justice. Jan met and married the love of his life, Michelle Knickerbocker Freeman, on August 26, 2006, in Frankenmuth at the Bavarian Inn Lodge. The two took a wonderful honeymoon to Venice and Rome, Italy. Jan loved to travel, and he referred to the U.P. as his happy place. Anywhere he could find an unmarked road, you could be sure that was the road he would take. He was ready for any adventure. Jan worked as a Firefighter for 10 years on the Clio and Mt. Morris Fire Departments before going into the construction field as the Construction Site Safety Officer as a pipefitter, machine builder then moving up to the OSHA safety instructor on the construction site. Jan grew up in the New Covenant Church in Clio and was a member of the Mt. Morris Christian Faith Church. Jan enjoyed being a Ham radio operator for the Genesee Emergency Response Group. Wherever he went, he was sure to come across someone he knew. Jan made friends with everyone he came into contact with. His personality was contagious, and he loved everyone. Jan loved to laugh and make everyone around him laugh. He never left home without an emergency bag in case he came across someone in need. He would give you the shirt off his back. Jan was a volunteer at the Flushing Schools, directing traffic for the food distributions and if he heard that someone couldn’t make it, he would deliver food to them. Jan played Santa Claus every year and he worked hard on growing out his beard all year long so it would be just right for the kids. Jan was a wonderful and loving papa to his grandchildren, and he took pride in spoiling them rotten. In his free time, Jan enjoyed archery and shooting. He will be greatly missed.
Left to cherish Jan’s memory is his wife of 15 years: Michelle Graham, sons: Jordan Freeman Graham and Brennan Graham; daughters: Amanda and Anthony (Silva) Graham, Natalie Graham; sisters: Jodi Spalding, Fran and husband, Paul Schamber; grandchildren: Levi, Kieran, LolaMae, Kendrick; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; life-long friends; Phil, Matt, Erik, Chris.
Jan was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.