Jonathan "Jack" Rees Viront

We lost a good person today. My brother, Johnathan (Jack) Rees Viront, passed away July 9, 2023, in Traverse City, Michigan. Jack was born in Canton, OH, on July 30, 1946, the middle child between two sisters. He grew up in Munster, Indiana. Most of his adult life he lived in and around Traverse City, MI. He didn’t quite make it to his 77th birthday. For the last 15 years he struggled with Parkinson’s Disease. Jack was a “Jack of all trades.” Like our dad, he could repair just about anything. When he was quite young, he received a Mickey Mouse watch for Christmas. By the end of the day, he had taken it completely apart and put it back together again – mostly. As a teenager, Jack and a high school friend built a car in our parents’ driveway, much to the annoyance of the neighbors. Later in life, he motorized his bicycle in case he got too tired to pedal home. He had a good sense of humor, which he kept to the end, along with his signature chuckle. Jack enjoyed hiking, camping, boating, hunting and fishing. One of his favorite places was Isle Royale National Park. Jack graduated from Hammond (Indiana) High School in 1965. Throughout his life he managed several commercial enterprises and worked in resort maintenance. He was always building or tinkering with something. He is predeceased by our parents, Frank and Mary Viront, of Munster, IN, and Paris, TN, and our sister, Cynthia Jane Viront Cuthbertson of Paris, TN. Jack is survived by his former wife, Marcia M Viront, of Traverse City, sister, Judy V Thompson (Brad), of Knoxville, TN, nephews Christopher Kupczyk (Kathy Zucca) of Arlington, VA, Bryan Kupczyk of Rock Island, TN, and Dr. Bret Cuthbertson (Lauren) of Auburn, AL, five great nephews and a great niece. The family would like to thank two people in Jack’s life - Darlene Ritter, whose caring and kindness made Jack’s last year’s special, and Cliff Wares who visited weekly and helped him run errands (they shared many hamburgers together). We are also thankful for the staff at PACE, Medilodge and Promedica Hospice. It was Jack’s wish to leave a part of himself for Parkinson’s research, and his brain will go to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center in Massachusetts. Final arrangements are being made through Kalkaska Funeral Home, Kalkaska, MI. He will be cremated, and his ashes dispersed at a later date.

Jonathan "Jack" Rees Viront

July 30, 1946 - July 9, 2023