Jon Harding Stitle

Jon Harding Stitle (82) of Rochester Hills, graduate Northwood University and advertising executive, succumbed to pneumonia on Friday, January 3rd, 2025 after a valiant fight. He passed peacefully with his daughter, Amy Stitle Frink, her husband, Michael Frink, and grandson, Christian Frink at his side. Daughter Kate Stitle Gates was with them via phone from Texas.

He has been reunited with his loving wife of 39 years, Penny (Sturtevant) who passed in 2003 and his significant other of 15 years, Lynn Telford who passed in 2023.

He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren who were not in attendance: Hunter Gates, Willow Gates, Tucker Gates, and Breanna Frink (Christian's wife), Xander (Alexander) Frink. He is survived by his brother Steve (and wife Nancy) in Chicago.

Jon was an attentive and loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather who had a need to take care of those around him. He was a good friend to many. Before grandchildren were in his life, he and Penny cared for and held Ryan Michael Koss in their hearts as a bonus. Once meeting his significant other Lynn, her daughter Katherine was another bonus to receive his guiding advice. And boy was he a man of advice along with loving support. When things felt difficult he was quick to say, “It ain’t easy being people” as if that summed up the situation.

Jon was gentleman with a handkerchief in his back pocket and the tiniest of antique pocketknife in his front pocket. He was prepared at all times because you just never knew when packaging, an envelope, or box needed opening with precision.

Jon loved traveling, boating, Torch Lake, and St John USVI. He was a foodie trying new restaurants everywhere he went while also maintaining strong ties and friendships at a few of his favorite local restaurants. He was always up and on the move because there were people to see and things to do.

You could count on Jon to have good stories to share and the strangers around him were friends he had yet to meet. As an advertising professional he started at Campbell-Ewald before moving on to TV Guide, CNN, and A&E. He was a creative, incredibly helpful and resourceful man who paired that with integrity and fun. Even after retirement he kept up friendships and followed who was changing jobs, where they may have moved to, and how their kids were doing.

Through the Gift of Life program, Jon’s donation will help burn victims. Through the University of Michigan’s Project My Heart Your Heart, his pacemaker will be safely reused by World Medical Relief in low and middle income countries without resources.

His memory is truly a blessing.