James Peter Start

James P. Start was an honest, loyal and caring man, who was filled with an overwhelming love and sense of pride for his family. He tried every day to be the best man he could, and was rewarded with a life of happiness for his efforts. In 1936, the United States was just beginning to surface from the effects of the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt continued to enact his domestic reform program known as the New Deal, which instituted programs such as Social Security. Meanwhile, political conflicts in Europe were also making headlines and within two years, World War II would escort a new generation of men into the horrors of battle. James Peter Start was born on August 2, 1936, in the city of Muskegon, Michigan on what was one of the hottest days of that summer. He was the oldest of three children to Peter J. Start, a cabinetmaker at E.H. Sheldon Co. and his wife, Mae (Wierema) Start, a homemaker. Along with his two sisters, Joann and Betty, Jim grew up in a loving home on Getty Street and Laketon Avenue, where every Saturday evening was bath time for Sunday school the next morning. The holidays were a very special time in the Start household, a place where all the family gathered and great food was plentiful. Jim attended Oakview Elementary School, and spent much of his leisure time playing sports, particularly softball and baseball, with his good friends, the Grimm and Bradfield brothers. A typical mischievous big brother, Jim liked to tease his sisters unmercifully, and on occasion talked them into doing something he knew was naughty. To get away for a while, the Starts frequently went tent camping up north (much to his mothers and sisters dismay). It was on these outings that Jim learned how to hunt and fish with his father. Life wasnt always easy for Jim as a young boy as he was born with Osteomyelitis (curvature of the spine), and at 14, he was fitted with a brace. His condition caused him to fall way behind in school, so Jim dropped out of Muskegon High and went straight to work. Over the next several years, his work history included gathering night crawlers to sell, pin-setting at Bob-Hi Bowling Alley, and working in celery flats, Maryland Dairy and the factory at Brunswick. Jim was in his early 20s when he married his first wife, Wellma Billie Crawford. They made their home on Black Creek Road in Fruitport Township, where they raised their two children, James (1958) and Lisa (1961). To support his growing family, Jim became a Barber and opened his own shop called Jims Barber Shop on West Broadway in Norton Shores. Besides being a good provider, Jim was also a devoted father to his children. He was generous and supportive of their every endeavor. So much so, he once brought home a Shetland pony in his camper because he let his kids buy tickets to win it - and they did! Jim washed that camper out 4 times to get the pony smell out. When it came to getting away, the family headed to sunny Florida for vacation, and Jim would tag along on their trips to Philadelphia and Colorado for the Maycroft Square Tappers conventions. Unfortunately, Jims marriage to Billie ended in divorce after 24 years. Jim eventually went back and got his GED from the Fruitport schools and even went further by taking classes at Muskegon Community College to be a Corrections Officer. He then became a Corrections Officer at Ionia Correctional Facility, and later at Muskegon Correctional Facility, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant before retiring in 1992. During this time, Jim was set up on a blind date with Regina Gina (Butcher) Letts by the husband of her twin sister, Roxann. As fate would have it, Jim and Gina fell in love and were happily married on November 30, 1984. Jim loved his family dearly, and together he and Gina enjoyed 26 years of marriage. They made their winter home in Lakeland, Florida, and as die-hard Detroit Tiger fans, they continued to faithfully follow the team through spring training and bought thousands of dollars in tickets every year, which they shared with their family. Above all else, the couple loved spending time with their families, whether it was for the holidays or special occasions. Jim had many hobbies he enjoyed, including hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, and whenever sports were on TV his hobby was being a couch potato. In his retirement years, Jim also got his training for harness racing and had 7 or 8 horses they ran at the county fairs. Jim Start was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. James P. Start, age 75, of Norton Shores, MI passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gina; son, James (Marilyn) Start of Muskegon; daughter, Lisa Spinner of Paris MI; stepchildren, Kristi (Cindy Simon) Myers of Howard City, Kraig (Clare) Letts of Montague; grandchildren, Evan, Sara, Jared, Joel, Shannon, Vaughn, Megan, Tyler, Christopher, Kamber, Tara and Shawna; 4 great grandchildren; sisters, Joann Merriman of Muskegon, Betty (Gary) Mosher of Norton Shores. He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Mark Spinner; and brother-in-law, Glenn "Buck" Merriman. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 15, at 2:00 p.m. at Evanston Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. Shane Prewitt & Rev. Al Engstrom officiating. Visitation is on Sunday, August 14, from 2:00-4:00 & 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home-Muskegon and 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Evanston Avenue Baptist Church. Please visit Jims personal webpage at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you may share a memory or sign his online guest book.