US District Judge John Feikens, Age 93

[Meddle]

U.S. District Judge John Feikens, who used a gavel and the power of his office to force Detroit and its suburbs to stop dumping raw sewerage into the Detroit and Rouge rivers, died Sunday, his family said today.

Feikens, 93, who had been in poor health for some time, died at his Grosse Pointe Park home, according to his son, attorney Jon Feikens.

“Basically, he died of old age,” young Feikens said. “He had grown increasingly weaker as the months went by and he just stopped functioning, he just stopped breathing.”

Feikens, a federal judge for more than three decades, reluctantly gave up his docket late last year.

“He was a beloved colleague and a giant of our bench and, in fact, the entire judiciary,” Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen said. “His legacy will be reflected in his 35 years of managing the Detroit water and sewer system in which he provided great stability in periods of challenge.”

His funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home. A visitation is being planned for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Continued: http://www.freep.com/article/2011051...text|FRONTPAGE

[1KielsonDrive]

A true gentleman.