John Michael Black's Obituary
BLACK
John Michael Black, age 63 of Elyria, passed away June 10, 2021. He was the beloved husband of 33 years to Diane (nee Helman); the adored son of Nancy Johnson and the late John Black; the loving father of Chris and the late Micah; the dear brother of Debbie Corfee, Tim Black, Susan Pender; the stepbrother of Doug (Becky) Johnson; and cherished uncle of many.
Michael and Diane first met when they were in Covenant Players, an international repertory theater ministry. Their love of God, the arts, and ministry became the foundation of their relationship. Today, June 20, 2021, would have been Michael and Diane's 34th wedding anniversary. They continued to serve in ministry through the birth of their 2 sons: Micah and Christopher. When Micah was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, they settled in Elyria. Chris arrived 5 years later. Michael loved being a father. “Dad - Toughest job you'll ever Love,” was the T-shirt he often wore. Michael's appreciation for books, entertainment trivia, and the things of the Lord encouraged him through the challenges of life. Meeting Micah's needs as a teen continued to complicate the family's life. Stepping down from full-time ministry and Micah's passing away from a seizure both occurred within 4 months.
And the little family of 3 started figuring out what the "new normal" would look like. Back to school, working different jobs, realizing that raising a teenager is just as challenging as raising a kid with special needs - all this filled their lives the last 11 years. Michael struggled with depression and ADHD. Arthritis and allergies slowed him down physically. But, through it all, Michael loved people, especially the children at their church. Staying connected with friends on Facebook gave him the outlet to minister. To encourage, debate, and exhort was a great delight for him.
The Celebration of Michael’s Life will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021, at 7 PM at Gateway Church, 5400 Lear Nagle Rd. North Ridgeville.
To view the services remotely, please use the following link:
https://youtu.be/QlzrO08xNvk
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