John James Witherspoon

**2/3/26

Our hero is returning home to Charlevoix on Monday, February 9, 2026.  He will lie in state at the Charlevoix Township Hall from Wednesday, February 11, at 11:00 a.m. until Friday, February 13, at 11:00 a.m.  All are welcome to honor John's life and pay their respects.  There will be a procession leaving at 11:00 on Friday from the township hall to Greensky Hill Indian Cemetery where John will be laid to rest.

John James Witherspoon of Charlevoix, Michigan was killed in action on January 17th, 2025, near the village of Vozvyzhenka in Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. He was an infantry platoon of the second battalion of the International Legion. John was respectfully given the name of Geronimo as his battlefield code name. He was so proud to fulfill his greatest heart’s desire to serve and we are so proud of him. He said that he was there to defend the freedom, sovereignty, and ancestral lands of innocent people and compared it to our history as Native Americans.

John was born in Cloquet, Minnesota on December 31st, 1996, and raised in Charlevoix. He attended Charlevoix Public Schools, and Northwest Academy, where he excelled in music. He graduated from the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in 2015 and continued to play music with his friends through the years after his graduation. He also enjoyed working a variety of jobs over the years.

He attended Western Michigan University for a short time before deciding to travel across the United States. He returned to Michigan and became a certified welder two years before leaving for the Ukraine. John enjoyed playing music, fishing, camping, hiking, disc golf, skateboarding and playing blackjack. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

John is survived by his parents, John and Sandra Witherspoon, his siblings, Sarah (Mike) Rostar and Nathan Shawano, his nieces and nephews; Wren Massey, Jordin (Tay) Harrell, Tyler Gellis, Claire Tennant, Alexia Massey, Dayton Shawano, Calob Rostar, and great nephew Cai Tennant-Rose.

He is also survived by his Aunt Patricia (James) Deckrow, Aunt Connie (Don) DiDomenico, Uncle Louis Oudin, Jonathan and Daniel Oudin, Luke Fertal and numerous cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Lois Witherspoon, and Cornelius and Dorothy Tookalo -Dyer, Sister Jennifer Louise Witherspoon, and Aunt Carole Dyer-Oudin.

Memorial contributions can be mailed or given to John and Sandra Witherspoon to assist John’s Legionaire brothers.

We would appreciate your prayers for PEACE, and the RESPECTFUL, FAIR, treatment of the people of the Ukraine. Miigwetch – Thank you!

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign his online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com