On February 2, Jon F. DeWitt, age 83, passed away in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Youngest of eleven children of William L. (Roy) DeWitt and Anna M. DeWitt, he was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary Ann, brothers Bill, James, Roy Jr., Robert, Jerry and Thomas, and sisters Kathryn (Kluesner) Mary Ann (Eckerly) Dorothy (Miner) and Ruth (Hiller). Surviving are children Ann (Dan) O'Keefe; William (Amy), Peter (Michelle) and Daniel (Lisa DeFerrari) DeWitt; grandchildren Patrick and Erin O'Keefe, Kelsey and Lauren DeWitt and Jessica and Brendan DeWitt; and great grandchild Madeline O'Keefe. He is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces. He will be missed by all. Jon DeWitt was born in Pontiac, Michigan in February 1938. The family moved to Higgins Lake (Roscommon) Michigan in 1946 where he attended Gerrish Higgins High School. He received a Business Administration Degree from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He also attended the University of Vienna in Vienna, Austria. Mr. DeWitt began his law practice as a law clerk to the Honorable Noel P. Fox, United States District Judge, and in 1969 became a Life Member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference. He began his civil law practice in 1964 and was a member and partner of the Varnum law firm for 34 years. Mr. DeWitt retired from the law practice January 1, 2000. While at the firm he served as chairman of the management committee from time to time, chairman of the environmental practice group and served as a mentor to young attorneys. He was a member of the Environmental Law Council for the State Bar of Michigan and was a frequent national speaker on environmental law. Most importantly, he served as "general counsel" to his family and extended family, with thoughtful and sound advice. Everyone naturally turned to him for guidance. Mr. DeWitt was elected to the Kent County Board of Commissioners in 1969 and reelected in 1971. During his final term he served as Chairman of the County Finance Committee. Other posts associated with his position as County Commissioner included member of the Kent County Library Board, Kent Community Hospital Board and Co-Chairman of the City-County Riverfront Development Committee. He was selected as Civil Counsel to Kent County in 1976 and served in that role for 23 years, longer than any other civil counsel. Active in community, church and school affairs, Mr. DeWitt served on the parish council at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in Belmont, was one of the organizers and first president of the Assumption School Board, and served on the board for the Assumption Education Endowment Fund. His happiest times were those spent with his family at the small white cottage on Higgins Lake perch fishing every day, hunting and "work bees" at the North 40 cabin, and years with his family at Fox Run Country Club in Grayling, which he helped develop with his brothers Tom and Jerry. Funeral services will be held in the spring. The DeWitt family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Lacks Cancer Center at Mercy Health St. Mary's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan.