John Witherspoon’s body in Michigan for burial from Ukraine war

John James Witherspoon, born in Michigan will be buried in Charlevoix this week after he was killed combating in Ukraine over a yr in the past.

Witherspoon was killed close to Vozvyzhenka, Ukraine, on January 17, 2025, on the age of 28, and his physique was returned to Charlevoix, his hometown, on February 9, in keeping with his obituary from Mortensen Funeral Houses. Memorial companies and funerals will happen from Wednesday, February 11 by way of Friday, February 13 in Charlevoix.

“After a yr of ready and surprising delays, our household is grateful and relieved to announce that our son, John James, is lastly coming back from Ukraine,” Witherspoon’s household stated. in a statement shared by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, of which he was a tribal member, in a Feb. 9 Fb submit.

He was born on December 31, 1996, in Cloquet, Minnesota, and grew up in Charlevoix, Michigan, in keeping with the obituary. Witherspoon was an alum of Charlevoix Public Faculties, Northwest Academy, Interlochen Arts Academy and Western Michigan College. He was an authorized welder, held a number of jobs and his hobbies included touring, fishing, tenting, music, mountain climbing, disc golf, skateboarding and blackjack.

“We respectfully acknowledge the journey of John James Witherspoon, a Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Member, from Charlevoix, MI,” the tribe’s submit stated.

Witherspoon was killed close to Vozvyzhenka, Ukraine, in keeping with his obituary. He had served in an infantry platoon of the second battalion of the Worldwide Legion through the battle between Russia and Ukraine, drawing parallels together with his personal indigenous id.

“He stated he was there to defend the liberty, sovereignty and ancestral lands of harmless individuals and in contrast this to our historical past as Native People,” the obituary stated.

Euromaidan Press, an English-language Ukrainian information channel, condolences offered for Witherspoon and different fighters killed within the battle between Russia and Ukraine in a December 1, 2025 Fb submit.

“We pay tribute to the heroic women and men who took up arms and rose to battle the Russian invaders. They’ll by no means be forgotten,” the submit stated.

He’s survived by his mother and father, John and Sandra Witherspoon, two siblings, seven nieces and nephews, a great-nephew, aunts, uncles, prolonged members of the family and pals.

Witherspoon will lie in state from 11 a.m. Feb. 11 to 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at Charlevoix Metropolis Corridor, in keeping with the obituary. He might be buried on February 13 on the Greensky Hill Indian Cemetery in Charlevoix.

The Feb. 11 service will start at 10:45 a.m. with a procession from Mortensen Funeral Houses to Charlevoix Metropolis Corridor, in keeping with the household’s assertion. On February 13, the viewing might be adopted by a procession at 11 a.m. from the city corridor to the cemetery. The processions will function members of Eagletown Publish 120, the tribe’s American Legion submit, with a drum, and veterans and neighborhood members are inspired to hitch in.

The household invitations guests to convey musical devices to the monument at Metropolis Corridor, a tribute to Witherspoon’s love of music, their assertion stated. From February 11 to 12, soup and refreshments might be offered all through the day.

What’s the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians?

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is an Odawa and Ojibwe tribe situated in northwestern Michigan.

“We, the Tribal Council of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, a sovereign nation, honor our ancestors and attempt to boost the well-being of our present and future members,” the tribe’s web site says.

What number of People fought within the battle between Russia and Ukraine?

A whole lot of People had fought for Ukraine within the ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine beginning in March 2025, in keeping with Navy.com, a military-oriented information channel, together with veterans. The U.S. authorities has not launched official figures on People who fought within the battle in Ukraine.

The battle noticed more than 8,000 International fighters will be part of Ukrainian floor forces beginning in August 2025, with the whole prone to be a minimum of twice as excessive for all branches of the Ukrainian navy, in keeping with The Protection Publish, a U.S. information outlet that focuses on international protection and safety affairs.

What’s the Worldwide Legion?

The International Legion of Defense of Ukraine is a unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, consisting of international fighters, created by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy through the battle between Russia and Ukraine, in keeping with the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA of America.

Witherspoon was killed whereas serving within the battle as a member of the Worldwide Legion, in keeping with his obituary.

How many individuals have been killed and injured within the battle between Russia and Ukraine?

Within the ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian armed forces have seen virtually all the things 1.2 million combined dead, wounded and missing soldierstogether with as much as 325,000 deaths, in keeping with a January report printed within the Middle for Strategic & Worldwide Research. The report estimates that between 500,000 and 600,000 Ukrainian forces have been killed, wounded or lacking within the battle, together with between 100,000 and 140,000 useless, by way of December 2025.

There have been 53,006 Ukrainians civilians killed or injured through the battle, together with 14,534 deaths, in keeping with a United Nations report in November 2025. A January UN report famous that 2025 was the yr deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians for the reason that begin of the battle with 2,514 useless and 12,142 injured. In Russia, 253 civilians died and 1,872 had been injured in 2022, Russian authorities stated, though the UN stated it couldn’t confirm these figures.

A minimum of 50 US residents died in Ukraine through the first two years of the battle, primarily those that traveled there to battle within the battle, together with humanitarian employees and civilian victims, per Process And Pressure, a navy and veterans affairs information outlet. Practically 40 had been veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

How did the battle between Russia and Ukraine begin?

The continuing battle between Russia and Ukraine started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, in keeping with the Council on International Relations. Relationships although had already been sour between the 2 Jap European international locations in current a long time, marked by pressure between Russian dominance and Ukrainian independence and sovereignty, Tufts College students famous in a January 2024 article.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.