Jack Lloyd Clingingsmith

Jack Lloyd Clingingsmith was born on November 27, 1936, in Lutesville, Missouri. Jack passed away on June 4, 2024, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. He was born to N. Lee & Ruby Clingingsmith, the second of four children. The family moved to Flint, Michigan during his early years where he graduated from Flint Central High School in 1955. He married his first wife, Peggy, in 1956 & his 2nd wife, Gaye, in 1987.

He completed the skilled trades program at Mott Community College, graduating as a journeyman sheet metal model maker. Jack had a long & prosperous career with Buick/General Motors for over 30 years, beginning at the Buick assembly plant in Flint, then Buick City & finished his automotive career at the GM Proving Grounds as operations manager of the test track. He owned & was president of Lux-Liner Homologation in Sturgis, MI for 15 years, prior to moving to Knoxville, TN, where he enjoyed the mountains, warm weather, squirrels & working in his garage – fixing, engineering & building a variety of creations. He returned to Michigan in 2020 & spent his remaining years with family. He was an avid gun enthusiast, enjoyed skeet shooting, motorcycles, cars, airplanes, cruising the St. Joe river on his pontoon, being Santa, & helping others. He was a master mechanic on cars & could repair anything. He had a passion for the cars of his youth, especially his beloved ‘55 Chevy Bel Air. He loved all animals, but cats and squirrels held a special place in his heart. He loved just ‘hanging out’ with his children & grandchildren, playing cards, talking, watching movies, and enjoying life. And that he did.

He was an pretty good practical jokester & could ‘MacGyver’ anything. You knew he was up to something when the corners of his eyes would crinkle & his eyes would twinkle, before a smile appeared – the wheels were turning & better stay on your toes. He was a generous man & would give you the shirt off his back. If you took him a Flint Koegel’s coney dog, you were his friend for life, especially if it came from Angelo’s. His beloved hunting dog Patches & his cats Theodore, Oliver & Gizmo were waiting for him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lee and Ruby (Hahn) Clingingsmith; his brother, Harold (Doug) Clingingsmith, his sister Sharon (Clingingsmith) Williams, and his wife Gaye (Densmore) Clingingsmith.

He is survived by his children, Bruce Clingingsmith, Karen Clingingsmith and Laura (Steve) Lonergan; his sister, Wanda Belton; his grandchildren, Aaron Clingingsmith and Nate & Riley Lonergan; and nieces Kim Williams & Victoria Griggs.

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 21, 2024 at Kirkridge Presbyterian Church in Grand Blanc, MI. Visitation will be 1-3pm, with the memorial service at 3pm. (If you have anything red to wear, it was his favorite color).

A luncheon at the church will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to your favorite animal shelter/rescue or the Back on Track Racers Recovery foundation (https://back-on-track.com/donate/) would be appreciated and a perfect way to honor a life well lived.

Jack’s life was a blessing, his memory a treasure, he is loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure.