John M. Goode, Jr.

John M. Goode, Jr., age 78, a longtime resident of Northville, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2024. He was born March 24, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan; son of John and Mary (Morse) Goode.  John was united in marriage to Carol A. Nikkila on December 16, 1966; they spent over 57 years devoted to one another and their family.

John graduated from the University of Detroit High School; class of 1964. Following high school, he attended University of Detroit and Lawrence Technological University before finishing up his schooling in computer programming. John worked as a software engineer for over 30 years for various companies including Stratus and Honeywell before finishing out his career at EMC Corp and retiring in 2009.

John was incredibly active, enjoying daily walks and participating in volleyball and softball. He had a deep appreciation for music, particularly loving Aerosmith, Queen, and Van Halen—always played as loud as possible. Among his unique talents were riding a unicycle and making the world’s best blue cheese dip from an old family recipe. John always had a project of his own or was helping his kids work on their cars, houses, yards, or anything else that needed attention.  He cherished his '57 Ford, which he had for many years, and spent countless hours tinkering in his garage, showcasing his ability to fix anything.

His knack for being handy proved invaluable when it came time to finish building their lake house. Summer days were joyfully spent with family on Lake Esau in Presque Isle, engaging in boating, waterskiing, and sailing. John was a patient waterski instructor, successfully teaching his grandchildren at an early age. In the winter, he relished the beauty and tranquility of cross-country skiing. John was a very supportive father and grandfather. When his children were younger, he coached their soccer and basketball teams and as a grandfather he took every opportunity to see his grandkids. Lovingly known as “Papa”, he attended all his grandchildren’s extracurricular activities and sporting events. John was a beloved husband, father, Papa, brother, and friend; he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

John is survived by his wife Carol; his children; John (Diana) Goode, Chris (Michelle) Goode, Tim (Kim) Goode, and Amy (Justin) Albert; his siblings, Richard Goode, Mary (Ed) Burnett, and Nancy Goode; his grandchildren, Morgan, Ashley, Caitlin, Delaney, Sam, Mary Kate, Eldon, Max, Ellen, and Miles; and his great grandson Elijah. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Harriet King, Martha Goode, and Bill Goode.

Memorial visitation will be held Thursday, July 25, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. with a celebration of life at 1:00 p.m. at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to Hospice of Michigan , 989 Spaulding Ave SE, Ada, Michigan 49301.