James Culverhouse Obituary
James “Jim” Culverhouse, 86, of New Troy, Michigan “Center of the World”, formerly of Sawyer and Benton Harbor, Michigan, passed away on Friday, September 6, 2024, after a fierce battle against Leukemia. Jim did not go down without a fight as he tried to remain strong and in charge until the end.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 11 AM at Starks Family Funeral Home Starks and Menchinger Chapel 2650 Niles Road Saint Joseph, Michigan with family friend Pastor Darrell Sheeley of Bay Lake Missionary Baptist Church of Groveland, Florida officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024 from 5 PM to 7 PM at the funeral home. In honor of Jim, please wear your favorite Michigan State Spartans, Benton Harbor Tigers, River Valley Mustangs, Detroit Tigers or Detroit Lions attire to both the visitation and celebration of life service. In lieu of flowers donations in Jim’s name can be made to New Buffalo Area Schools C/O Building and Trades Program, PO BOX 280, New Buffalo, MI 49117. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Jim grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan and was the 3rd of 5 children born to George and Winona (Kendall) Culverhouse.
Jim was a 1957 graduate of Benton Harbor High School where he was a successful Cross-Country runner and played on the Tiger Basketball team and would fondly tell stories of playing with the late great Chet Walker who became a professional basketball player. One of his fondest memories was playing for the state championship in 1957 in East Lansing at Michigan State University. Playing in the championship game in East Lansing made him a huge MSU fan.
Jim served his country in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1965 when he was Honorably Discharged. Jim was stationed briefly at Fort Knox, Kentucky and would joke around about it being his “golden years” due to the gold being at Fort Knox.
Jim worked for Benton Harbor State Bank in Benton Harbor right after high school and would regularly share stores of his time there. During a job interview at Nylon Products in Bridgman, Michigan, he met the love of his life, Melodie. After the job interview, the boss asked the office staff that who out of the two candidates should he hire. Melodie said “Jim” because I’m going to marry him.”
Jim and “his bride” as he called her, were married in Sawyer, Michigan at the United Church of Christ on April 6, 1963 and celebrated 61 years of marriage prior to his passing. Jim and Melodie celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony at the church and attended regularly until just prior to the church’s closure in 2014. The family has many fond memories of Sunday school, holidays and volunteer opportunities at the church.
After they were married, Jim went to work at Whirlpool Corporation where his father-in-law Ray worked. Jim dreamed of owning his own business to support his family. Jim went to work at several local electrical contracting companies to obtain his Journeyman’s license as an electrician. Once he obtained his Masters and electrical contractors licenses, Jim started River Valley Electric. He was a proud independent business owner for over 50 years upon his passing and was still finishing small electrical jobs upon receiving his leukemia diagnosis. He prided himself on “Prompt, Professional Service”, and his work ethic produced many repeat customers and referrals for new ones.
Jim loved giving back to the community and helped train future electricians by teaching the electrical portion for the combined building Trades classes from New Buffalo, River Valley, Galien, Lakeshore, St. Joseph and Buchanan. Several students went on to become electricians because of his teachings.
Jim and Melodie’s marriage produced two children whom he was very proud of, their son, Greg and their daughter, Deniece. They could be seen attending their kids’ band concerts and sporting events at River Valley on a regular basis. It was while volunteering for the band boosters that Jim became known as the “Popcorn Man”. Jim realized that the band boosters could make more money if the popcorn was sold during the basketball games in the gymnasium. Jim began selling the popcorn hence, earning the nickname. Jim enjoyed being the score keeper and stat keeper at River Valley games after his kids graduated from River Valley. Later on, he assisted the basketball team at Lake Michigan College with his friends from the Schaffer Family.
Many memories were made on family vacations to visit Melodie’s relatives in the Deerfield, Illinois area and on extended camping trips with Melodies’ mom, dad and sister to Buck Lake Campground in Angola, Indiana, Donna Joe’s Campground in Kokomo, Indiana and Hickory Hills Campground in Knox, Indiana. The family also enjoyed going on camping trips to the caves of Kentucky, the mountains of Tennessee and the Fort Wilderness Campground at Disney World. Jim, Melodie, Greg, Deniece, and Melodie’s mom, dad and sister would take many trips to Lake of the Ozarks and Branson, Missouri, where they would fish and waterski.
In later years, Jim and Melodie traveled to Las Vegas, on cruises to the Caribbean and several “All-inclusive resorts” in Cancun, Mexico. Once finding their favorite resort, they would go back several times and Jim would become a big hit around the pool and resort gaining the title of “Honorary Employee” and was presented with a resort uniform and official badge.
Jim was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers and Lions and would yell “GO GREEN”! to anyone wearing Michigan State Spartans gear. He also was a huge supporter of the River Valley Mustangs sports teams but he would say “Once a Tiger, always a Tiger” because of his love for his alma mater The Benton Harbor Tigers. Melodie and Jim had season tickets to the MSU football games for over 20 years and even stayed at the same hotel for many of those years, making friends with several hotel staff members. Jim would appear on the jumbotron frequently at the football games as he would stand up and dance to the music playing on the stadium PA system. They made many friends at the games and enjoyed tailgating with their fellow fans.
Jim was a long-time member of Fraternal Order of Police Blossomland Lodge #100 in support of his daughter who held a career in Law enforcement. Jim could be seen at many law enforcement functions to further support those in law enforcement.
Jim and Melodie were long time volunteers for the Blossomtime Festival. Jim enjoyed helping in many aspects of the festival, including the Mr. Blossomtime Pageant, the Blessing of the Blossoms and driving Melodies’ convertible in the parade.
Jim was a tough, hardworking, loving family man who has been quoted as saying “I did the best I could”. Even with the diversity of trying to fight off his leukemia he wanted to make sure things were taken care of at the family home. When it became apparent that he was not able to do things on his own and had to rely on others he said that he was not use to having to receive charity, that he was the one usually giving charity.
The family would like to thank the staffs of Marie Yeager Cancer Center, The Cancer and Hematology Centers of Grand Rapids, Butterworth Hospital, Corewell St. Joseph and Caring Circle Hospice. Jim was given excellent care by not only those medical facilities but by family friend Jacquie Gnodtke Blackwell. His granddaughter, Brandy who is a CNA came over daily to take care of her grandfather, assist her grandmother and other family members attending to Jim’s care. His granddaughter Emily who is a doctor serving in the US Army, in Hawaii made sure to consult with the doctors tending to her grandfather and made sure that the rest of the family understood everything about her grandfather’s diagnosis. He was very proud of all of his grandchildren. Jim’s sister-in-law and brother-in-law Gaye and Randy White took the time to stay for several weeks to help with Jim’s care, trading on and off with Jim’s daughter Deniece and her husband Jack to assist in Jim’s care. Mostly though it was Melodie his “bride” who took the vows of “in sickness and in health” to heart, tending to her husband when in the hospital, taking him to treatment and providing as much care as possible throughout his illness.
Jim is survived by his wife, Melodie, Daughter, Deniece (Jack) Fisher Jr., Granddaughter Brandy Culverhouse, Granddaughter Captain Emily Culverhouse-Boltz (Nick) D.O. M.D United States Army and grandsons, Corey (Jason Hinks) Bryant and Justin Bryant. A Great Granddaughter, Vada Johnson. Brother Brian (Marybeth) Culverhouse and a sister Sara Wick. Nieces and nephews, Amy (Joe) Ruolo and Amy’s son Cory, Mark Culverhouse, Vicki (Paul) Shaver, Annie (Maverick) Kruise and their children Gavin, Gunnar, Emmett and Egan Albert (Heather) Culverhouse and their son Timothy, Joel (Amber Taniuchi) Wick. Roger (Barbara) Jones, Steve (Sally) Jones. Sister-in-law and Brother-in-Law, Gaye and Randy White and their children, Joshua (Allie) White and Kaycee White. Joshua and Allie’s children Persephone, Arkadiusz, Dionysus, Artemis Luna, and Hestia.
“Adopted family” Diana and Brian Bromley and their children Valerie, Nina, Kollen, and Seth who referred to Jim as “Dad” and “Grandpa.” Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his son Greg, brothers George and Roger, his nephews Roger Culverhouse, David Jones and Bryce Culverhouse, his Aunts and Uncles and by his in-laws who he cherished very much Ray and Muriel Rosenbaum.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph, 269-556-9450.
