Patrick Joseph Michael Creager

Patrick Joseph Michael Creager, born March 5, 1950 return to His Father in Heaven on April 10, 2025 at the age of 75 years old.

Patrick was raised in St. Joseph Michigan, where he spent his summers sneaking onto the pier to fish with his brothers and running away from home when he received a B in math at Catholic school. Later, the family moved to Kalamazoo, where Patrick attended Western Michigan University where he met his future wife of 52 years, Merry.

Patrick raised his family in Sand Lake, Michigan, in a slower lifestyle that included horses, goats, rabbits, chickens, cats, and his beloved dogs. During this time he worked at Grant Hospital and later founded the Kent County Animal Hospital with a colleague.

Patrick began his career in Medical Technologies at St. Mary’s Hospital, and after receiving his accreditation in hematology, he was recruited to start East Paris Medical Labs, which became one of the first labs in the country to perform AIDS testing. He became president of the Grand Rapids AIDS task force and traveled regularly to Guatemala on mission trips helping to set up healthcare programs around the country.

Patrick returned to University to receive his MBA and a Masters in HealthCare Management which he used to help various medical institutions improve their systems and procedures, including some time at WMIVF & MMPC. He eventually formed Guidance Healthcare Consulting, which took him around the country reorganizing and improving both large hospitals and small private practices.

Above and through all of this, Patrick treasured his time fishing, being outdoors on hikes, canoe rides or camping, and showing off his prized tomato gardens, which regularly exceeded 100 tomatoes per season. He was known by the many souls he touched as a man of kindness, generosity, compassion and the heart of the party. If it was one of Pat’s parties, the food would be epic, the music lively, and the laughter never ending.

In retirement, Pat travelled to Europe and prioritized time with his wife in the garden and seeing his two grandchildren whom he loved dearly. Gaga (4) was his new favorite fishing buddy and Yaya (5) his favorite girl to whom he could read a book.

He survived by his wife of 52 years Merry, his daughters Rachel (Josh Kessler) & Rebecca (Samuel Diaz), and his son Noah Creager (Sara), and grandchildren Aliana (5) and Gabriel (4) along with numerous nieces and nephews, his sisters-in-law Linda Terry & Susan Linden (James), and his older brother Michael (Sue Creager). He was proceeded in death by his Mother & Father and his brothers Bud, Eb, and Nick.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in May. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Bostwick Lake Congregational or the Kent County Humane Society.