John Earl Haggard Sr. Obituary (1941 - 2025)

Born Jan 29, 1941, John Earl Haggard Sr. attended Charlevoix High School in Charlevoix, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about John Earl Haggard Sr..

Graduation Year	Class of 1959
Date of Birth	Jan 29, 1941
Date of Passing	Sep 10, 2025
About	John Earl Haggard Sr., age 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 29, 1941 in Charlevoix the Beautiful, the place he loved above all others (with the possible exception of Beaver Island). He was the Son of George O. Haggard Sr. and Pauline V. (Kolar) Haggard Shadko. John graduated 8th grade from St. Mary’s School in 1955 and from Charlevoix High School in 1959. He attended Ferris Institute and The University of Tennessee. He graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Ferris State College in 1968. He married the love of his life, Phyllis R. Stevens, on September 9, 1967 at Immaculate Conception Church in Traverse City. They were married for 58 years. He served proudly in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 – 1967. After an honorable discharge, he worked for the Ford Motor Company, Iron Foundry from 1967-1971. He then joined his brother, Bill Haggard, starting Haggard’s Plumbing & Heating. He ran the business for over fifty years. John enjoyed hunting and the related travel, making frequent visits to places like Beaver Island, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula for deer, bear, elk, rabbits, pheasants and grouse. John was a faithful member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. He was a life-long member of the NRA, Charlevoix Rod & Gun Club, American Legion Post #226, Rocky Mountain Elks, Father Pierre de Charlevoix, Knights of Columbus #7172, Beaver Island Wild Life Club, Whitetails Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Charlevoix Elks Lodge #2958, and Petoskey Eagles Lodge #2462. A fixture in Republican politics for decades, John proudly served as Charlevoix County Commissioner, Chairman of the Charlevoix County Republicans, 11th District Republican Treasurer, Michigan Republican State Committee Budget member, Delegate to numerous state and national conventions, and three-time Presidential Elector. While John was widely recognized as a leader in business, politics and his community, his family was his greatest pride, especially being “Papa” to his grandchildren; they brought him immense joy. He loved gathering with family and friends for every holiday, as well as other special occasions. For more than 50 years, he and Phyllis hosted summer picnics every Wednesday at Depot Beach. Everyone was welcome. He also enjoyed meeting with his friends every morning at 9:30 a.m. for “coffee class,” where they solved the world’s problems. John will be remembered for his warm smile, endless jokes, caring heart, and unconditional love. He genuinely cared about others, including strangers, getting to know them and where they came from. Anyone who worked in a Charlevoix area restaurant, was undoubtedly familiar with John’s routine of visiting the kitchen at the end of a meal to make sure he personally tipped the dishwashers and thanked them for their service. That was just a small example of the many ways, both big and small, in which his care and generosity impacted hundreds of individuals. John’s passing leaves a huge hole in the community and an even greater void in the hearts of his family. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Haggard of Charlevoix; daughter Marylea “Betsy” Svanda (Todd) of Portland, Michigan; daughter Barbara Haggard of Charlevoix Michigan, son John Earl Haggard Jr. of Charlevoix Michigan; as well as his brother William J. Haggard (Laurie) of Charlevoix; 15 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, George O. Haggard Sr. and Pauline V. (Kolar) Haggard Shadko; step father Gregory A. Shadko; son Ronald Haggard; granddaughter Marlene Evans; brothers, George O. Haggard, Sr. and James Haggard; and step brother Warren J. Shadko. A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Charlevoix. Visitation will be held at the church from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, September 16th, with a rosary to follow immediately after. There will be an additional visitation at the church on Wednesday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass at 11:00 a.m. John will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Please join the family after the burial for a luncheon at the Elks Lodge, Charlevoix Michigan, for one last chance to raise a glass and toast John Haggard. Memorial donations may be made to the John Earl Haggard Sr. Memorial Fund, PO Box 35, Charlevoix, MI 49720. Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign his online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com To send flowers to the family in memory of John Earl Haggard Sr., please visit our flower store.