John Alfred Abramson

DeWITT, Mich. — Abramson, John age 79, went to his eternal home on March 2, 2023, after a battle with Post Cortical Atrophy/Alzheimer’s Disease.

John was born in the small Finnish community Alston, Mich. on January 21, 1944. John graduated from Escanaba High School in 1962. In 1963, John married Cynthia (Carol) Walker, the love of his life. They met in 1960 and went to Escanaba High School together.

John received a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Michigan State University in the 1960s and an MBA from Western Michigan University in the 1990s.

He worked at Consumers Power (Jackson, Mich.) for 8 years after graduating from MSU. Following Consumers, John worked as a utility consultant for Stone & Webster (Manhattan, N.Y.). During that role, he traveled to many states to help utilities with their rate proposals. In 1974, he took a position in the Electric Division of Michigan’s Public Service Commission (MPSC). Before he retired from the MPSC, he was the director of the electric division.

During retirement, John was a consultant working for Consumers Energy, Detroit Edison, and other Midwest utilities.

He and Carol also served as volunteers at the Escanaba Historical Museum and at Redeemer United Methodist Church’s food pantry. John and Carol loved entertaining and were known to hold great dinners and cook outs for family and friends.

John loved the Upper Peninsula, especially Escanaba and the Copper Country, his birthplace. He and Carol bought Carol’s mom’s house in 1998 and enjoyed spending their summers in the U.P. John was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He and Carol were actively involved in their grandchildrens’ lives and especially loved having the grandkids visit them in Escanaba. The 4th of July was so much fun with John as the merry host.

John loved country, rock, blues, and gospel music. He enjoyed playing golf, cooking, grilling, reading, writing, and traveling until vision loss made activities tough. John was known for his high energy, humor and his affable nature and cheery smile. Even is his last days, he liked to tease and joke with people.

John is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol, and children and grandchildren Kristy, Steve, Nathan and Claire Bennett; Steve, Susan (Grake), John and Lila Abramson; and Katie, Tony, Noah, Will, Henry and Elizabeth Marl; sister-in-law, Evelyn Walker; nephew, Rodney Kangas; and nieces, Susan (Abramson) Finnegan, Sarah (Abramson) Dowdy.

He is predeceased by parents, Arnold (Carl) and Lila (Oger) Abramson; sister, Joyce Kangas; and brothers, Ronnie, Gerald, and Gordon Abramson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army (525 N Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48912), or the City Rescue Mission of Lansing (2216 S Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48910).

John’s family would like to express a sincere and grateful thank you to the staff at both The Woodlands of DeWitt and Lansing Area Hospice.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on March 8, 2023, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 205 E Washington St., DeWitt, MI 48820.

The Funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on March 9, 2023, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 205 E Washington St., DeWitt, MI 48820.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.GRDeWitt.com