John Stephen Debolle

John Stephen DeBolle (August 3, 1931 – December 14, 2021)

John Stephen DeBolle age 90 of Roseville, passed away Tuesday, December 14, 2021. He was born August 3, 1931 in Detroit, MI, son of the late Benoit and Maria DeBolle.

John met the lovely Dolores Curlee and created a life of courting and romance which ultimately led them down the aisle of marriage on June 29, 1957. They were blessed to welcome two beautiful children into their lives and grew deeper in love with each passing day as they enjoyed their 54 years of wedded bliss together until Dolores' passing on March 30, 2011. An amazing father, grandfather, brother, role model and inspiration to all of us and the people who were fortunate enough to meet him along the way. John was a great provider who worked hard to maintain the comforts of home and hearth for his wife and children and made sure everything ran like a well-oiled machine. His tasks were many for years and he handled them all with incredible strength, skill, and with the heart of a servant.

When it came to enjoying some of his favorite pastimes, John possessed a bit of the sporting spirit which emanated through his love of baseball, National Match Military Competitions, and gun collecting. Naturally, hunting and fishing were a great passion in his life. In his younger years, John was quite taken by the game of baseball...and was quite competitive as well. As he grew older navigating the baseball diamond became more challenging, he created a baseball team of coworkers at the Government, he named the team the "Assassins." Well, they went 14-0 and won it all! That's the Man/Father he was. His childhood dream was to become a professional baseball player or physician.

John was a Korean War Veteran from August 15, 1951 through August 8, 1953 and received an honorable discharge. With his military background, it was natural for him to continue his interest in the military and continued to compete nationally at military competitions. He ultimately became a Marksman!
When it became time to exchange the game of baseball for something a bit less physical, John took on the challenges in his new sports: gun collecting, hunting, and fishing. A little less demanding but still requiring the skills of a military professional.

John and his family have property at Canada Creek Ranch in Atlanta, MI, where he enjoyed his hunting and fishing for many years with friends and family. He always shared his knowledge and skills to all of the younger men. Some elders too were amazed at his knowledge of the woods and weapons. With a fishing rod in hand, down at a familiar fishing hole, forever in search of a trophy winner… or at least dinner. Walking down the trail with his rifle in hand, headed for the Crow's nest blind (his favorite) he would get comfortable and wait for that trophy buck. Nothing combines the unique sense of peacefulness and fun quite like the sports of hunting and fishing and John knew them both very well.

When he lost his beloved wife Dolores, John was one of those who kept on with his life…dancing, bowling, golfing and as mentioned above, hunting and fishing. John was blessed to find love twice when he met the beautiful Penelope Symchych (Penny). Though he didn't follow her down the aisle, he might as well have as the two formed a beautiful love story of their own that provided a plethora of joy for John going forward. One of the fondest memories his children reflect upon is how their dad loved to dance. Dad and Penny loved to dance, and made it look so smooth and easy as they "tripped the light fantastic," swaying across the dance floor like Fred and Ginger. Nothing says "love" quite like watching a couple, embraced in each other's arms, moving together in a synchronicity that seems to define one moment. That was John and Penny.

Yet of all John will be remembered for, it was his love of the Lord and his immense faith that shone so bright. John was a longtime member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Detroit. John's faith was deep and abiding, and it touched a multitude of hearts and souls as he journeyed through his life. Perhaps that is a large part of why he was loved/liked so much and "never met a stranger." He always saw the good in people.

A loving father, grandfather, brother and companion, John leaves behind a wonderful legacy of love that is sure to be embraced with each reflection shared. He set a marvelous example of how to live, laugh and love, and made his own unique mark on this world…and in the precious hearts of his loving family. He will be missed beyond measure!

John was the beloved husband of the late Dolores DeBolle. Loving father of Michael DeBolle and Michele (Robert) Peressutti, adoring grandfather of Stephanie DeBolle, and loving companion of Penny Symchych.

A Memorial will be at Great Lakes Military National Cemetery on August 3, 2022 – Tap's Military Ceremony will be performed on his birthday.