Angus Fraser MacKinnon

All who knew Angus Fraser MacKinnon would agree that he was the most amazing person one could ever hope to meet. He was a man of honor and unwavering moral convictions with a heart of compassion and a spirit of generosity that were unmatched. Known to most as Mac, he was frugal, hardworking, and a savvy businessman who used his time and talents to bring blessings to others within his community. A devoted family man, he was there for his children throughout their entire lives, and it was the example he set for his children that contributed to their own successes more than any other influence. Fraser provided his family with everything they needed and more, and it will be his children and grandchildren who carry on his timeless legacy.

It seems only fitting that Fraser’s journey began during a time that was as vibrant as he was. It was the Roaring Twenties when affordable cars and radios were signs of the time and prosperity covered the majority of the decade. Amidst this time of great success was the year 1924 that was filled with great joy for one young couple from Joliet, Illinois, as they were pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy on September 17th. He was one of two children born to his Scottish immigrant parents, Edward and Dolina Fraser MacKinnon, and he was raised in the family home alongside his sister, Catherine. During the first ten years of Mac’s life the MacKinnon family moved around a bit including to Grand Haven, Alma, and St. Johns, all within Michigan. Fraser played tennis in high school, but a bad cough during the winters left him unable to play on the basketball team. Respiratory problems followed him throughout his life.

As a young man Mac was ready to embark on the exciting journey set before him. He spent his first college semester in engineering school at the University of Michigan, but his plans were set aside as WWII enveloped our nation in the early forties and Fraser answered the call to serve. He joined the Navy, serving as a signalman on a destroyer escort ship, the USS Swenning, in the Atlantic and Pacific. With his military duties fulfilled, Mac went back to college, this time at Michigan State. It has been said that this was one of the few mistakes that he ever made. Mac also began working with his father at their clothing store in St. Johns.

In 1946 Fraser and his father built a cottage at Pickerel Lake in 1946, and this became his favorite place in the world. From his earliest days Mac vacationed there as a young boy beginning in 1925. It was at Pickerel Lake that he met the young woman with whom he would write a love story that would span the majority of his lifetime. Her name was Barbara Bull, and they met when her father bought the lot next to the MacKinnon’s cottage. After falling deeply in love, they were married on May 16, 1953, in Sparta, Michigan. Together they welcomed two children, Alexander and Elizabeth, into their hearts and home. Fraser was very involved in the lives of his children and never missed cheering them on in their sporting endeavors. This tradition later continued with his grandchildren. Mac was there to help his children move various times as he concluded that he had rented more than 20 U-Haul trucks to accomplish this.

Known for his strong work ethic, Mac owned the dry goods store, E MacKinnon & Son, for 30 years, working there six days a week, 52 weeks a year including every night during the month before Christmas each year. Despite the large chain stores of the world, Fraser was successful because of his honesty and overall attitude toward his customers. He was always very adept with computers, and in the late seventies he bought one of the very first Apple II E computers to use in the business. Fraser retired in 1984 at the age of 59.

Throughout his life Fraser liked staying busy. He was an avid fisherman who fished all over including in Pickerel Lake, the Muskegon River, Croton Dam, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada, the Maritime Provinces, New Zealand, and several other bodies of water around the world. Fraser had great fishing buddies, including his children and grandchildren, who loved spending time on the water together. He was good with stocks and invested well both for his family and for the St. Johns Cemetery. Fraser paid for everything with cash, never borrowing money, yet he willingly loaned money to his children to help them along the way. Through his travels in the Navy and in traveling with his wife he was a world traveler who went places like Europe, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, North Africa, and Egypt among many more, but St. Johns and Pickerel Lake were still his favorite places to be. A strong Christian, Fraser faithfully attended the St. Johns Methodist Church and was a firm believer in the power of prayer. He was a mediocre golfer, an expert in working with stained glass, prepared extensive genealogies of his family, and was an avid and fast reader, however he was known to skip all of the short words! Fraser loved dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments and had several dogs as companions through the years. Extended family meant the world to him, and he would do anything to help them as well. Fraser was handy around the house and spent ten years working with his wife on their cottage at Pickerel Lake.

Later in life Fraser spent several years caring for his wife as she struggled with carcinoid tumors until her death. In his early sixties Fraser was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of prostate cancer, but he was able to beat it with surgery and hormone therapy. As his own health declined due to COPD, his positive attitude remained intact.

A man of honor, integrity, and sound moral principle, Angus Fraser MacKinnon was a blessing to all who were within his reach. He never used foul language and thought of others ahead of himself, and together he and his wife exemplified what marriage is truly intended to be. Fraser will be deeply missed while his memory is forever cherished by all who were within his reach.

Angus Fraser MacKinnon died on October 5, 2014. Fraser’s family includes his children, Alexander Fraser (Jane) MacKinnon and Elizabeth (James) MacKinnon Eaton; his three grandchildren, Maggie, Duncan and Andrew; brother-in-law, Dr. John Bull; and nine nieces and nephews, Cathy (John) Kish, Rob (Edie) Wilcox, David (Susan) Wilcox, Kathleen Richmond, Ken (Joan) Richmond, Fran (Rick) Saplis, Greg (Julie) Bull, Sean Bull and Kelly (Brian) Rimar. Fraser was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; sister, Catherine (Robert) Wilcox; and his parents. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church of St. Johns at 200 E. State St. with Pastor Ellen Zienert officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. at the Osgood Funeral Home 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns. Memorial contributions may be made to Sparrow Hospice. To learn more about Fraser and view his Life Story film, please visit his personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/102431. The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.