John M. Searles

Searles, John M. 

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024 John M. Searles, cherished husband and beloved family man passed away peacefully at home at the age of 81. Following his cremation a private celebration of life will be held for immediate family.

John, a lifelong resident of Flint, was born on January 3, 1943 in Capac, Michigan, the eldest son of Dr. Karl and Betty (Madsen) Searles. He graduated from Flint Southwestern High school in the Class of ’61 and went on to attend Albion College. John married his high school sweetheart Sundra “Sandy” Schwartz on April 19, 1962 marking the beginning of a 62-year partnership with the woman John called his life-partner, best friend, confident and love. Together John and Sandy raised four children, Jeffery, Kimberly, Michael and Susan and built a beautiful life focused on family, friends and adventure.

John was a respected Flint business man for over 50 years. He began his professional career as a stock broker but soon transitioned to the insurance industry where his career spanned 47 years first as a partner with Associated Agency and ultimately retiring as the CFO and honorary Chairman of the Board at Security First Insurance in 2010.

A passionate outdoorsman, hunter and conservationist, John hunted all over the world with his high school best friend Chris Gutscher and for the past 28 years accompanied by his fearless and enthusiastic wife. John was founding Chairman of the Flint Ducks Unlimited Chapter, an active member of Safari Club International and was a supporter of many national and international conservation efforts across the globe. He was especially proud of the hunting property he and Chris bought in 1971, christening it The Dreadnaught Club with a vision for both hunting and recreational use. Over the past 53 years the property has been enjoyed by countless friends and family and remains a wonderful legacy of their shared vision and conservation efforts.

John and Sandy traveled extensively during their life together, experiencing 6 continents and 22 countries, and as recently as 2022 trekked and hunted the mountains of Tanzania and Pakistan - much to the delight of their decades-younger guides. At the 2023 Safari Club International Convention John was presented the SCI World Conservation and Hunting Award, one of the highest achievements an SCI member can receive. Over the years John published over 40 tales of his hunting adventures in the SCI newsletter, stories that were later compiled and self-published in a book titled “Places of the Heart”. His prolific writing style - both for publication and personally with family and friends - was humorous, modest and always thankful for the people who filled his life.

A family man who lived with integrity and knew how to enjoy life, John was known as a spirited story teller. His tales were usually of a death-defying nature - facing certain hypothermia trapped on a glacier in Alaska, escaping on horseback from a charging grizzly bear, surviving a pulmonary embolism and stroke at 11,000 feet in mountainous Ethiopia, or wading through neck-deep leech infested waters in Cameroon, to name just a few. He was a fun-loving dad and grandpa immensely proud of all his “babies” and delighted in sharing any activity with them from celebrating a milestone event, to story-telling, hunting, fishing, building a big bonfire or even a tractor ride through the woods at sundown; John and Sandy were always the first and last on the dance floor, gracious hosts for any celebration, and regardless of time zone, they rarely missed sharing a 5pm gin & tonic with a toast to their shared love of life, family and especially each other.

Preceded in death by his parents, John will be deeply missed by his family - wife Sandy, sons Jeffery Searles (Flint, MI), and Michael (Toni) Searles (Orlando, FL), daughters Kimberly (Robby) Kukler (Atlanta, GA) and Susan (Bill) Roeck (St. Simons, GA), grandchildren Audrey, Chloe (Gage), Max, Abby, Sam, and Will, great grandson Beck, sisters Nancy Robbins and Debbie Peck, brother Jeff (Susan) Searles, sister-in law Jill Picket and brother-in-law Marc (Janice) Schwartz as well as many nieces and nephews. While he left us for the great hunting reserve in the sky, all who knew John can find comfort in picturing him reunited with his adored Black Lab Skeet and dealing a game of Sets and Runs with his loud, fun-loving Dreadnaught Club buddies Terry, Bob, Les and Morrie who passed before him.

Condolence cards to the Searles Family can be sent to Sandy Searles, C/O Sharp Funeral Home 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek, MI 48473. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in John’s Honor. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.