James L. Ware

JAMES L. WARE 

      James “Jim” Ware, age 89, of Cass City died peacefully Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in Covenant Medical Center, Saginaw. He was born April 25 ,1935 in Cass City to Leo Stanley and Mardell Noreen (Starr) Ware.

     Jim graduated from Cass City High School in 1953 and immediately began working at Walbro Corporation until serving as a private in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, from 1955 to 1957. He played baseball for the U.S. Armed Forces Baseball League while he was there. Following his honorable discharge, Jim returned to Cass City and Walbro, where his military service was applied to his tenure. On August 15, 1959, Jim married his longtime girlfriend, Joan Carol Seeley, in Novesta Church of Christ.

     Jim was employed by Walbro for forty-two years, serving in a variety of management roles for the corporation, until his retirement in 1995. During his career and well into retirement, he served the Cass City community with his many volunteer efforts, including: Boy Scouts of America, Cass City Village Council, Cass City Chamber of Commerce, Cass City Little League Baseball, Cass City Village Pool planning and construction, Wastewater Treatment Plant planning and construction, Lighthouse Rehabilitation Center board member, Cass City Historical Society, Rawson Memorial Library, and the Thumb Octagon Barn. In recognition for his contributions to the village, Jim was awarded Cass City Citizen of the Year in 1981. He was a member of Deford Community Church since 1981, where his community service continued by helping with construction of the gymnasium, rectory, and Sunday school rooms as well as teaching adult Sunday School.

     Jim is survived by his wife, Joan of Cass City; children: Sally (Jack) Ramp of Gurnee, IL; Laurie (Michael) Parker of Apex, NC; Daniel (Kristin) Ware of Northbrook, IL; grandchildren: Sarah Ramp, Kevin (Rosemary) Ramp, Stephen (Jessie) Ramp, Adam Parker, Julia (Stephen) Clark, Benjamin Ware, Coraline Ware, Finley Ware; sister, Donna Nye; brothers: Ferris (Carol) Ware, David (Judy) Ware. He is preceded in death by his infant son, Ted Andrew Ware; parents; Leo and Mardell Ware; brother, Gordon Ware and sister-in-law, Ella-Jean Ware; brother-in-law, Ken Nye.

     Funeral service held 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2024 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City with Pastor David Cooper of Deford Community Church officiating. Military honors conducted by Cass City V.F.W. Post #3644 and the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Interment will be in Elkland Township Cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Deford Community Church.

      Visitation: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2025 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City