John J. Lanaville Jr.

Lake City - John Joshua Lanaville, Jr., 77, passed away on Saturday, March 11th after a recent diagnosis of metastatic gastric cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends at his home in Lake City, Michigan. 

John was born on February 23, 1946, in Escanaba, MI to John and Marie (Brunette) Lanaville. He grew up fishing and camping with his brother, Rod. John married the former Betty Kerr on July 31, 1965.  John built quite a legacy and lived out the American Dream. In 1993, he founded Lanaville Foundations, Inc and quickly built a name for himself in the field of caisson drilling. He greatly enjoyed his car racing days, flying airplanes for several decades, and tinkering around his welding shop. He was a proud member of the Lake City community, helping his neighbors in any way he could, including designing and working with a team of friends to build a barge for fireworks on the lake, and plowing the private roads at the airport. John was well-loved by his immediate family, extended family, and countless friends. Everyone will remember his unforgettable sense of humor and his perpetual generosity. There weren’t many days where John wasn’t lending a hand or hosting company.

John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty; brother, Rod (with wife Carla) Lanaville; son, Bill; grandchildren, Lindsey (with husband Josh) Redinger and Dylan (with wife Emma) Lanaville; four great-grandchildren, Landon, Macy, Lucas, and Jaxson; sister-in-law Patty (with husband Joe) Gibson; nephew Chris (with wife Tanya) Gibson; niece Jenny Gibson (with partner Rudy Tessmer); many extended family members; and his beloved dog, Tessie. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie; his son, William James; and his beloved dogs, Casey and Lucky.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Lanaville home on Saturday June 24, 2023 beginning at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate in John’s honor to St. Jude’s or a local charity organization of your choice.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.holdshipfuneralhomes.com      The family is being served by the Young-Holdship Funeral Home.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John J. Lanaville Jr., please visit our floral store.