Jim was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Frances Hoogterp, Brothers Bill and Bob Hoogterp, sister Rosemary Cox, nephew Paul, niece Sara, greatniece Aubrey, parents-in-law Ed and Clara Plamondon, brother-in-law Bill Plamondon, sister-in-law Janice Plamondon, and son-in-law Allan Boomgaard.

Survived by his wife of 61 years Gladys Hoogterp, daughters; Janet ( Joe) Syrek, Susan Boomgaard-Rasch (Chuck). Grandchildren; Stephanie Boomgaard, Jordan Syrek (Alyssa Spoelhof), Jared (Kori) Syrek, Kyle (Johanna) Rasch, Alayna Boomgaard, Anaka Boomgaard, Jonathan Syrek. Great-grandson Cooper Syrek. Siblings; John (Carol) Hoogterp, Kathy (Andy) Hubert, Anne (Jack) Steele; sisters-in-law Judy ( Jerry) Bennett, Carol Hoogterp along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Jim was the eldest of seven children and enjoyed playing ball in the neighborhood, hunting and fishing along Buck Creek, and attending St. Pius Catholic Church where he served as an altar boy. In his adult years, he was a parishioner at St Anthony’s Catholic Church for over 60 years. At age twelve, he had a paper route and worked in nearby muck fields before taking his favorite job at Fred’s Trading Post, followed by positions at Kelvinator and many years at Jobbers Warehouse. There, he encouraged a solid work hard/ play hard ethic among the young men who worked for him.

During his early adulthood, Jim enlisted in the Army National Guard and was deployed to the Detroit riots. He met Gladys during these formative years one night at the “Old Crow” in Saugatuck. They married a year later in Gladys’s hometown of Lake Leelanau, celebrating with a reception dinner on her parents’ farm.

Jim was a natural athlete and excelled in many sports. He was a wellknown fast-pitch softball player, a talented golfer, and enjoyed running. Hunting pheasants and rabbits with his beagles was a lifelong pastime, and he loved sharing these trips with family and friends. Fishing, especially fly fishing for bluegill at Leach Lake or ice fishing with Gladys on Hamlin Lake, was another passion.

After moving his young family to Marne, Jim took up gardening, cultivating a large garden that produced hundreds of pounds of vegetables for family and friends. He taught his daughters to appreciate the outdoors and sports, spending many hours playing basketball, catch, and ping pong. Jim took great joy in his grandchildren, actively supporting their activities from ball games and track meets to horse shows, art exhibits, scouting achievements, band concerts, and more.

Jim cherished family time often spent outdoors. This included trips to Leelanau or camping, where he taught his grandchildren to play Euchre and Cribbage. In retirement, Jim and Gladys became avid hikers on the North Country Trail, maintaining a section for thirty years. They also enjoyed participating in the Audubon Society and working on their birding life list. Many winters were spent in Florida, making new friends along the way. Jim was Glady’s biggest fan he especially enjoyed all the fine cooking she provided him over their 61 years of marriage, they enjoyed a full and rich life of travel, family, friendships and the outdoors.

A Memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church.