Harry R. Mccallum

Harry McCallum was the kind of man anyone would want for a friend. His loyalty and dedication to his family, his faith, and his profession were obvious to all who knew him. Instead of using his strengths and talents for selfish ends, he used his sharp mind, positive attitude, and determination to help others without expecting anything in return. He persevered in the face of difficulties and inspired others to do the same. The pristine backdrop of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan offers a rustic and beautiful location for raising a family, and in the first months of 1937, Amos and Ida (Cassidy) McCallum of Gould, Michigan, were getting ready to do just that. Ida was expecting any day and never forgot that frigid February 13th when she was finally able to cradle her first baby, Harry, in her arms. Times were tough during those final years of the Great Depression and a second World War was looming in Europe. Amos was fortunate to have a job and provided for the family as a mechanic. Ida managed what was soon to be a very busy household as Harry eventually became big brother to Mary Beth, Byron, Neil, Ken, Jim, Alan, and Judy. All of the children learned to pitch in and were given responsibilities to help things run smoothly. There were certainly times of sibling rivalry and undoubtedly the boys held impromptu wrestling matches on a regular basis, but there was also love and loyalty that helped develop a sense of responsibility to one another. Harry took those lessons to heart and applied them to his own family when he was blessed with children of his own. Harry loved fresh air and sunshine, and one of his favorite ways to enjoy it was while playing baseball. He was good at it and retained his love of sports throughout his lifetime. After Harry finished grade school, the family moved to Fruitport, Michigan, several hours south of Gould and not far from the lovely Lake Michigan shoreline of Muskegon. Harry attended Muskegon High School and graduated with the class of 1955. A couple of years later, he acquired his dream car, a brand new 1957 Thunderbird. He took loving care of it and looked forward to every minute behind the wheel. Harry decided to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. He was trained in communications where his interest in radio blossomed, and was stationed in Germany for the majority of his service. Upon his discharge, he returned home to Muskegon and got a job at Pipple-Patterson Printing where he worked for over thirty-five years until his retirement. Besides providing for Harry's financial needs, Pipple-Patterson offered another opportunity, one that he would not have traded for anything. He met a lady who worked in the mail room named Nancy Panici and found himself looking for opportunities to talk to her. As time passed, they fell in love and Harry was overjoyed when she agreed to be his wife. They exchanged vows on October 10, 1964, at St. Jeans Catholic Church of Muskegon, and kept their promises for over forty years. They rented a house in Grand Haven until they purchased their first and last home in Fruitport at 2598 Pontaluna Road. Harry and Nancy raised three precious children, Deborah, Michelle, and Mike, in Fruitport and saw them all graduate from Fruitport High. Harry was committed to attending all of their extracurricular activities and made sure that they knew how special they were to him. Some parents dread helping their kids with their homework; not Harry. It was one more way that he could show his love to them as well as express his belief in the importance of hard work and education. His example as a lifelong Catholic, most recently as a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Spring Lake, demonstrated the priority of his faith to his children, a value he hoped to pass on. Memories of time spent as a family reinforced the bonds that Harry worked hard to build. Harry knew that his relationship with his wife was of utmost importance in creating a supportive home for their kids. Wednesday night was date night for Harry and Nancy which often included bowling and dancing. Although they undoubtedly had their struggles like everyone else, their love for one another only sweetened with time. Community was important to him and was partly demonstrated by his service as a Little League baseball coach. As a citizen and a patriot, he appreciated his country and thought it was important to stay up-to-date on political happenings. Harry enjoyed time with friends and kept busy even after the kids had left home. He liked going to Little River Casino, though he rarely pocketed any profits. He also enjoyed bike rides, walks in the woods, and Fruitport's annual Old Fashioned Days. He liked to draw, especially little things that his children and grandchildren might enjoy. Harry was ecstatic when his first grandchild, Brooke, was born and it was a special treat that she arrived on his wedding anniversary. His second granddaughter, Jada, doubled his joy and he loved watching them grow and being involved in their lives. In 2005, Harry faced the difficult circumstance of his precious wife's illness. She was admitted to a nursing home that year and Harry was the picture of devotion, visiting her every day. She died on Christmas day, 2008. Less than a year later, Harry lost his mother, Ida, on November 2. It was a difficult period and the adjustment to living without Nancy was challenging. He took comfort in the time he could spend with his family and enjoyed getting together with them at Burger Crest in Fruitport. Harry suffered a massive heart attack and died on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He would never wish for any of his loved ones to grieve, but he would have been pleased to know that they were together in the end. His unquestionable commitment to them and their happiness will continue to encourage them as they look back on his legacy of love and faithfulness. Harry is survived by his son, Michael McCallum of Fruitport; daughters, Deborah (Trent) Paynich of Grand Rapids and Michelle (Mike) Lovse of Wyoming; granddaughters, Brooke and Jada Lovse; brothers, Byron (Patricia) of Colorado, Neil (Judy) of Fruitport, Ken (Carolyn) of Fruitport, Jim (Jennifer) of Muskegon, and Alan (Wanda) of Grand Rapids; sisters, Mary Beth (Peter) Williams of Gladstone and Judy (Keith) Wolven of Grand Rapids; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, in 2008. His memorial service will be held on Monday, September 12, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church - Spring Lake, with Fr. Dan DePew officiating. Interment will be at Fruitport Cemetery. Family will welcome friends and loved ones on Sunday, September 11, 2011, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 5:00 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial contributions to the Fruitport Lions Club are appreciated.