John B. Belmonte

A man who was so much fun to be around, John Belmonte brought such joy to those in his life. He was a hard working man who also knew how to live life to the fullest with each new day he was given. Johns journey was enriched in many ways, but there was nothing more near and dear to his heart than his family. Friends were an additional gift in his life, and spending time with his friends and loved ones always topped his list. The memories he leaves behind will be treasured by many for years to come. The year 1945 is often remembered as the year that WWII finally came to an end. Countless young servicemen and women were returning to their loved ones back in the states, eager to resume the lives they set aside for a time. Finally able to emerge from the dark shadows of the Great Depression and the perils of war, America was poised and ready for good times. This same year brought great joy to one young family from Muskegon, Michigan, as they were pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy on September 20th. Baby John was the fourth of six children born to his parents, Sam Jr. and Cora (Timmons) Belmonte, and was raised in the family home on Jackson Hill alongside his older siblings, Frances, Rosemary, and Sam III, and his younger siblings, Larry and Kristyne. The Belmonte family highly valued both their faith and their extended family, and their Italian heritage was of great significance as well. They were members of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church where John served as an altar boy. Johns father worked for Clarke Floor Sanding while his mother was a homemaker. As a student he attended Froebel and St. Joes Elementary School. It was during his formative years that John developed his lifelong love of baseball. After graduating from Muskegon High School in 1963, John was ready to fully embrace all that life had in store for him. He liked dances and cruising the Ovals as well as parties. Some might say that if there was fun to be had, John would find it. Life was forever changed for John when he met the woman who would give him a son. Her name was Bernadine Lamrock, and they married in the early sixties. Together they were blessed with the birth of their son, John. As a father John was strict but loving, and although his marriage soon ended in divorce he was forever grateful for the son they shared. Throughout his life John was known for his strong work ethic. He worked at Clarke Floor Sanding for a time, but later settled in as a machinist at L3 Communications Corporation. He remained there for 31 years before retiring. New and exciting changes were in store for John when he went bowling at Northway Lanes in Muskegon in 1972. It was there that he met a woman named Gini Zuber. The couple began dating and continued to do so for 25 years. Deeply in love, they were married in Las Vegas in 1998. As a huge Elvis fan it seems only appropriate that John sang one of his most famous songs to his sweetheart, Cant Help Falling in Love. Over the years John was a man of many interests. He loved both Elvis and country music in general, and pizza and steak were his favorite foods. John was an avid bowler who took many road trips to various bowling tournaments in places like Battle Creek, Traverse City, and Cheboygan. Golfing and visiting casinos were additional favorite activities whenever John had the time. Although John enjoyed pursuing his interests, it was sharing his days with the people he loved that meant the world to him. He was a member of the Fruitport Eagles for 35 years where he became close friends with many people through the years. Johns lifelong friend, Tom Erxleben, had a special place in his heart along his entire journey. Extended family was also of the utmost importance to John. Christmas Eve found the entire family gathered at his sister Rosemarys house with his brother-in-law Bill taking on the role of Santa. John was also close with his son John and all of his stepchildren and their families as well. Daily life became more difficult for John and his loved ones when his health began declining in 2007. He suffered a minor stroke, which opened the door for other issues over the years that followed. There were so many things to love about John Belmonte. He had a happy and warm demeanor and could make us laugh, too. Although he could be a bit quiet, he never left his friends and loved ones to wonder how he felt about them. John was a man of great character who could be counted on to be honest, and he was always on the lookout for ways he could brighten the days of those around him. He will be deeply missed and warmly remembered. John B. Belmonte died Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Johns family includes his wife, Gini; son, John Belmonte of Muskegon; brothers, Sam III (Char) Belmonte of Fruitport, Larry Belmonte of Battle Creek; sisters, Frances Duplississ of Muskegon, Rosemary (john) Bench of Spring Lake, Kristyne (Tony) Barr of North Muskegon; stepsons, Mike, Gary, Rod, Ken, Bruce Zuber; stepdaughter, Jodi Smith; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grand children. Services will be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 1:00 p.m. and visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Rev. Ken Shady officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the guestbook.