John M. Feiner, Pioneer Glass Contractor, Dies

Started Paint, Glazing Business Here in 1885; Succumbs At Age of 85
John M. Feiner, pioneer Ann Arbor businessman and a lifelong resident of the city, died suddenly late Saturday afternoon at his home, 113 W. William St. He had been in poor health of two years but his death came unexpectedly.
Mr. Feiner, 85 years old, was born in Ann Arbor, Oct. 3, 1861. He was a son of George and Katherine Feiner.
For 60 years Mr. Feiner was active in Ann Arbor's business world. In 1885, a year after his marriage to the former Elizabeth O'Keefe, he opened his own business as a paint, glass and interior decorating contractor at 117 W. William St. After twice expanding his facilities at that location, he moved his sales office in 1941 down the block to 216 W. William St., where he had long maintained his warehouse.
Glazing Business Grew
Ann Arbor's first contracting glazier, Mr. Feiner concentrated on paint and interior decorating work for the first 30 years of his business career but since that time his company's glass work has become paramount to the other. Mr. Feiner and his sons, Carl and Walter, both long associated with him in his business, handled the glass work on many of the early University buildings. Shortly after the turn of the century, they installed all windows and door glass in the city's first "sky-scraper," the present Ann Arbor Trust building (then the Glazier building).
The Feiner company's glass business has grown from a sideline to the point where the firm down a majority of the glazing work within a 50-mile radius of the city.
Mr. Feiner operated his company until 1940, when he ceased active participation but retained his interest in the business. In 1945, the business was transferred to his sons and this year it was incorporated as a stock company with the sons, Carl and Walter, both officers of the firm.
Director Of Bank
Mr. Feiner was one of the organizers of the old German-American Savings Bank here and continued as a member of the board of directors when that bank consolidated to become the present State Savings Bank. He held his directorship at the time of his death.
He was a member of the First Baptist church, the Elks lodge and the Schwaben Verein.
Mr. Feiner, who married Miss O'Keefe in September of 1884, was preceeded in death by his wife, who succumbed Jan. 26, 1945. The couple was one of the few in the state to celebrate a 60th wedding anniversary.
Since 1892 Mr. Feiner had made his home in the 100 block of W. William St.
Survivors include the two sons, Walter and Carl, both of Ann Arbor; a daughter, Mrs. J. J. McDermott, St. Joseph; two sisters, Mrs. Clara Valentine and Miss Emily Feiner, both of Ann Arbor; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Muehlig chapel at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, with Rev. William R. Shaw, Ypsilanti officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery here. Friends may call at the chapel.