Vance Vassallo

VANCE VASSALLO

February 9, 1956 – June 25, 2026

Vance Vassallo, age 70, passed away peacefully at Hospice House of Mid-Michigan in Lansing on June 25, 2026, after a brief illness. He was diagnosed on May 15 with non-small cell lung cancer, which was very aggressive.

Vance was born February 9, 1956, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids to Angelo and Gwendolyn Vassallo. It was a difficult birth that resulted in cerebral palsy, which led to epilepsy at age 7. Despite his handicaps, he graduated from Coopersville High School in 1974 and obtained a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in 1981. Because of his handicaps and health issues, he was not able to hold a full-time job, but found his calling when he volunteered half-time at the Ingham County office of the Michigan Department of Social Services in Lansing for 29 years. He also traveled extensively and wintered in Florida for many years with his father after his mother passed, and they attended many athletic events in Coopersville. He was proud to be a life-long resident of Coopersville and was always glad to be home.

Vance was preceded in death by his father, Angelo, on June 11, 2013, and by his mother, Gwendolyn, on April 1, 1988. He is survived by his sister, Lorraine Finison, brother-in-law, Kim Finison, and his children, Kristopher Finison, Lindsay Smith, and Andrea Palomba, and their families.

A memorial service and celebration of Vance’s life will be held at Coopersville Reformed Church, 423 W. Randall St., Coopersville, on Friday, July 17, at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Mark McCormick officiating. Vance was a life-long member of CRC. Visitation with the family will be an hour before and after the service.

Memorial donations may be made to Coopersville Cares, 180 N. 68th Ave., Coopersville, 49404, or to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, 1210 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, 48915. The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at the Hospice House for the exceptional care they gave to Vance. Condolences for the family may be left on Vance’s guestbook at www.throopfh.com.