John August VanWambeke My Friend Beke 10/30/24 "When the wagons leave the city, For the forests and further on. Painted wagons of the morning, dusty roads where they have gone" ...poignant lyrics from the song Theme for an Imaginary Western, written by Jack Bruce and famously performed by Mountain - the band of our youth. How do you say goodbye to your lifelong best friend and buddy? It is impossible! Our lives and roads traveled have been entwined for over half a century. It is said that going away to college forces you to grow up and find your life path. It also provides an opportunity to meet new people. For me, it was my opportunity to meet and become a very close friend of Beke. We shared so many adventures during our long friendship. Many nights traying in the Arb while students at Michigan, creating the Fungoe Roaches softball team in college that later morphed into Kerry Whitbracht's Livonia S-Team, playing the word game Perquacky late into the night while snacking on kippers, carrying the toilet for you out onto the UM Diag so you could sit on the pot and hawk your Michigan Gargoyle humor magazine, countless summer vacations with our families on the beautiful Michigan landscape, many Friday nights playing the Wailaea Golf video game while our wives were working nights as nurses and you were on kiddy patrol, playing frisbee in the streets darting in and out of traffic making impossible catches, attending concerts of our favorite band Mountain, watching innumerable Michigan football games rooting on our beloved Wolverines. We made these memories together while being discretely wild, or so we thought. We helped each other welcome life-mates Chris and Colleen into our lives, and later welcomed our children into the world- Andy & Sarah for you & Chris, Joal & Mike for me & Colleen - and together we watched them grow and prosper. So many memories, too many to recount them all. I am sad that all of us left behind will not be making more memories together my dear friend. I will always cherish the many memories we made together and keep you close in our hearts by revisiting those memories - until we meet again in the great beyond. We are the painted wagons leaving dusty roads where we have gone. Your friend forever Jak
Memories
John and I met 50 odd years ago, and having similar humors, found interesting time spent together, among an interesting mix of friends. Great spirit that John brought drove the fun and conversation to unplanned yet compelling places. Having become a responsible businessman, husband and father, John still found time to enjoy a laugh or some sporting fun. I still can't throw a disc like he could. John was also a trusted financial counselor of mine.
I worked in the Southfield office with John and he was such a nice man. He would stop by for a chat and sometimes as business related questions. He would bring me iced coffees as payment for his questions. :) I was always happy to help.
He was kind and considerate. Around Fat Tuesday he would ask the whole floor of the office what flavor of Paczki they would like and take his list down to Hamtramck and get them from a Polish bakery. He waited in line for all of us!
He always had a funny joke to tell. He will be missed!
John was my Financial Advisor since 1983. I quickly came to trust John and realized he was very passionate about his job and a man of integrity. As a family man he spoke often of his wife and kids. I appreciate the fact that he looked out for the future of all his clients. He will be missed. John and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
JoVae Meier
Nov 3, 2024
John was a very nice man and very knowledgeable in his profession. I pray the family will be sustained by memories of good times. Peace
I have known Beke (which is what his Michigan friends called him) for over 50 years. He was a dear friend. He was always the party organizer and loved to play games. He will be missed by many. RIP, Beke, and GO BLUE!!