John M. Adams

John Michael Adams, 83, passed away on January 19, 2024. 

Born on January 30, 1940, John grew up in Detroit. He began working at Taystee Bread which was across the street from the family-owned Michael’s Bar started by his Polish immigrant maternal grandparents. He met the love of his life, Carolyn (née Migora) in the office at the bakery and they married in 1961. Attending American Institute of Baking in Chicago, a notable career in baking was launched and John worked his way up to VP of production and also did consulting – he worked for Way Baking Company, Awrey Bakery and Sara Lee. Early in his career in a happy accident, he developed split top bread with water sprayers, which all other bakeries later copied – John was rewarded with a $25 savings bond. While with Awrey, he traveled to Europe a number of times to design and order new large-scale equipment for the danish line.

For over 20 years after retirement, John’s love of baking continued as he baked yeast bread regularly and perfected his own formulas (recipes) for English muffin bread, rustic 19-hour bread with tomato dipping sauce, challah braided bread, dinner rolls, and cinnamon rolls. He loved to watch the Food Network and talk about food. John was an excellent cook, made delicious chicken parmesan, Thanksgiving turkey on the grill, and frequently cooked with his wife Carolyn for the extended family and special event dinners for the Miles Christi priests. Known as “Papa” to the grandkids and great-grandkids, he loved to make them cookies, muffins, and monkey bread. With John, cooking was a family affair - there were never too many cooks in the kitchen, but it was clear who the head chef was!

Gardening was another passion – for many years, John had an enormous garden with heirloom tomatoes planted from seed – he shared the abundant produce with family and neighbors. He also canned romas and made the most delicious tomatoes vinaigrette salad.

John loved his cars and also the family 20 ft Sea Ray named “Carolyn” – summer family fun included: boating and picnics, water skiing, tubing, salmon, lake trout and perch fishing. Along with the boat, a treasured family legacy that continues is the yellow house at Higgins Lake – being “up north” has brought rich memories and is the favorite summer place for the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.

Having a simple faith, John had some unique experiences. He had guardian angel encounters with his angel, “George”. In 2014 at a Sunday Mass saddened by the lack of people attending, John received an idea in prayer of having a special Mass to invite others. Pitching the idea to his parish priest, there was a Welcome Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel the next year. In recent years his daily devotion was watching EWTN for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Rosary at 3pm. What a grace it is that his last 20 minutes here on earth were spent with some of the family around him listening to Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song. Near the end of the closing prayer, John breathed his last breath and was born into eternal life. 

John is preceded in death by his parents Emily (née Niemiec) and John Quincy Adams, and son-in-law Ian Krul, late husband of his daughter Sherry and father of Joseph and Mary Carolyn. 

John is survived by his wife Carolyn, married 62 years, and his four daughters Jeanne Stevenson (Thomas), Sherry Mayer (Richard), Michele Bruns (Patrick), and Susan Sheesley (Michael Holka). John is also survived by many loving grandchildren Sophie Bizon (Robert); Carly Kaminski (Brian); Dillon and Emilie Stevenson; Jonathan, Noah, and Ryan Sheesley; Joseph and Mary Carolyn Mayer; Nicholas Kibble (Rachel); Kyle Mayer (Megan); Matt Bruns (Lauren), Will and Claire Bruns; 13 great-grandchildren; as well as other family members, nieces, nephews and his sister Ilene Grzegorek.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 47650 North Territorial Rd, Plymouth, MI, at 11am on Thursday, January 25, 2024, with in-state beginning at 10am.  Following the Funeral Mass, all are invited to attend a luncheon at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center, 8768 North Territorial Road, Plymouth - (734.453.7272).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Miles Christi Religious Order towards the “Gregorian Masses for John Michael Adams”. Please include this in the comments/memo line upon making your donation. Envelopes available at the Church or to donate online: https://www.mileschristi.org/donations/ 

The family appreciates your prayers, love and support. 

If you ever talked with John for a bit in recent years, he probably asked you his favorite question, “What are the three most important things in life?”  He would then inform you emphatically … God … Family … and homegrown tomatoes!