James "Jim" S. LaMont

Munising

James “Jim” S. LaMont, age 88, of Munising, died Friday, January 6, 2017 at his home under the loving care of his family.  He was born on November 30, 1928 in AuTrain, Michigan to the late Louis and Margaret “Maggie” (Foskette) LaMont.  As a young man, Jim began working with his father for the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic Railroad.  He then began logging with the German prison camps during WWII, operating the loaders and sledding logs with horse teams.  In 1946, Jim began working at Munising Woodenware as a bowl turner.  When the Woodenware closed, he went to work at the Munising Paper Mill and retired from Kimberly Clark in 1989 as a Machine Operator on Coater 17 after thirty-six years of service.   Jim married Carole Pelletier on April 22, 1950.  Together, they raised their five children.  Jim was an avid hunter, a fisherman extraordinaire, trapper, ski jumper, President of the Thunderbird Archery Club where he earned many trophies and medals, enjoyed riding his motorcycle and ice skating (especially with his wife).   After retirement, he enjoyed yard working, relaxing on his beach with family, and boating.  Jim was a builder, an inventor, and an improvisor.  He was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church and served on the church council.

Jim is survived by his wife of sixty-six years – Carole LaMont of Munising; children – Kathleen (Edwin Victor) Rodriguez of Scottsdale, AZ, Cynthia (Leonard) Smith of Manteca, CA, Debra L. (Richard) LaMont-Arbour of Cornell, MI, and James (Katrina) LaMont of Interlochen, MI; daughter-in-law – Nancy LaMont of Rochester, WA; grandchildren – Eric (Alison) VanBrunt, Shawn (Nida) Stone, Jennifer (Jay) LaMont-Hatterbaugh, Tarrah A. (Jeff) Bartell-Larson, Garren J. (Marilyn) Bartell, Marilyn LaMont, Rebecca LaMont, Alicia LaMont, Katrina LaMont and Jeremy, James and Windy Wohlford; great-grandchildren – Alexes, Jayden, Menardas, Nija, Skylar, Breanna, and Autumn; sisters – Juanita Passinault and Berniece (Paul) VanDyke; in-laws – Eileen St.Amour and Joe (Joanne) Pelletier; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his son John “Jack” LaMont, siblings Ben LaMont, Louis (Alice) LaMont, Marie (Harold) Hill, Murial (Stanley) Feil, and  Margurete (Lew) Worthington; in-laws – Leo Passinault, Estelle (George) Anderson, Marie (Howard) Fromm, and Hank St. Amour.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Tuesday evening from 5:00 – 8:00.  A Parish Vigil Service and time of sharing stories and memories will take place at 7:00 p.m.   Father Jose Cherian will celebrate Jim’s Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Sacred Heart Church at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.