John D. Gurnow

John David Gurnow, age 62, passed away March 15th 2024. He fought relentlessly against his diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma since October 2022, rising to every challenge his health presented. He lived a life that was so much more than the illness that took him.

He was born December 27th, 1961, in Highland Park, Michigan to John and Marcella (Lynn) Gurnow. John married his high school sweetheart, Catherine (Dunbar) and they were blessed with 3 children: Geoff, Lauren and John E. Family was incredibly important to John and he enjoyed spending time with his siblings Ronald and Cheryl.

John graduated from the Detroit Police Academy in 1986 before beginning his career in law enforcement as a police officer in Detroit, Michigan's 9th Precinct. He hired onto the Sterling Heights Police Department in 1990 to raise their children in Sterling Heights until his retirement in 2012.

His retired life was filled with adventures with friends and family. John spent summers in St. Helen riding dune buggys on the weekends with his friends. During the week, he could frequently be found at his children's homes completing all sorts of tasks. His winters were filled with snowmobiling with the boys. Every adventure with John was filled with laughter and thrills.

John is survived by his wife Catherine (Dunbar), Geoff (Ali) Gurnow, Lauren (Jake) Moore, and John Earl. He is also survived by his mother, Marcella (Lynn) Gurnow and his siblings: Ronald (Amy) Gurnow and Cheryl (Tom) Langewicz. Cathy's brother Scott(Deborah) Dunbar and Karen (Stephen) Domanski. He is lovingly remembered by his many nieces and nephews: Tommy and Jamie Langewicz, Cheri and Garrett Gurnow, Andrew (Ashley), Lance (Cassie), Troy and Noelle Dunbar, and Stephen and Christopher Domanski. He will be forever loved by his numerous cousins and friends. His granddogs: Zephyr, Siouxsie, Stormy and Nelson will miss his endless cuddles and treats.

John was predeceased by his father, John H.A. Gurnow, his beloved Uncles Jerry Lynn and Donald Janefski and Aunt Donna Janefski.

Visitation Monday, March 18, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Wysocki & Wilk Funeral Home, 29440 Ryan Road, Warren, Michigan. Visitation will continue Tuesday, March 19, from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service held at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Cadillac Memorial Gardens, East Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Donations may be made in John's memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society .

Please share a memory, thought, or prayer with the family here on John's Tribute Wall.