James "Jim" D. Maxon

Munising

            James “Jim” D. Maxon, age 91, of Brown’s Addition, passed following a brief illness at his home Friday, August 12, 2022.  He was born on January 15, 1931 in Munising, the oldest of the six children of Leo and Lillian Maxon.  Jim was raised in Brown’s Addition and was a lifetime resident of the neighborhood.  He left school as a young man to work for the commercial fishermen in Brown’s Addition and had many stories of Lake Superior and her moods.  He also planted trees on the Wyman Project in the forest.  Jim went to work for Kimberly Clark in 1951.  On January 13, 1953, he left the mill to serve our country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  Jim served with the 29th Infantry Regiment in Korea.  He was honorably discharged on December 29, 1954.  He returned to the paper mill and in 1988 he retired from Kimberly Clark with over 37.5 years of service.  During those years, Jim worked in the Sulphite Department, Specialties Department, and then the Service Operations Department where he retired as the shipper-checker.  In 1956, Jim met Margaret Elaine Hollingshead at the wedding of a family member.  They started dating and got married in 1957.  Together raised their four children.  He and Margaret enjoyed riding his Goldwing motorcycle together and wintering in Leesburg, Florida for over ten years.  They were very devoted to each other and their family.  Margaret preceded Jim in death on February 11, 2017 after fifty-nine years of marriage.  Jim loved being around the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He was the chief neighborhood watchman of Brown’s Addition and kept busy watching the traffic on the road and going up Stink Hill.  Jim was a kind man with a stubborn way.  He will be always remembered for his “Jimisms” and would want everyone to know he “Did it My Way.” 

            Jim is survived by three children - – Sue (Kevin) LaFave of Munising, Jim (Robin) Maxon of Munising, and John (Julie) Maxon of Madison, Alabama; grandchildren – Josh (Jan) Bond of Munising, Matthew (Samantha Watson) Bond of Ashland, WI, Scott (Katie McVicar) Bond of Portage, MI, David Maxon of Munising, Adam (Brandi) Maxon of Negaunee, Amanda Maxon of Mesa, AZ, Melissa (Bond) Wells of Madison, AL, and Bradley (Laura) Maxon of Crane Hill, AL; great-grandchildren – Brielle, Rosie, Lillian, Charlotte, Atley, Ashton, Maverick, Emma, Will, and one more on the way; sister – Verna Kallio of Gwinn; brothers – Jerry (Char) Maxon of Munising and Bob (Sharon) Maxon of Gladstone; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, wife Margaret, their son David Lee Maxon on July 28, 1981, siblings Betty (Tage) Woodaz and Roy (Margie) Maxon, and brother-in-law Don Kallio.

             Services will be held on Friday, August 19, 2022.  Visiting time with family and friends will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Military honors will be rendered by the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising at 2:00 p.m. and Jim will be escorted by his grandchildren. 

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