James Kimmel

James Richard "Jimmy" Kimmel age 76, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Thursday, January 31, 2019, at Woodland Hospice House, Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Doug Strait officiating.  Burial with military honors will take place at Chapel Garden Cemetery, Elwell, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 4, 2019 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.

Jimmy was born in North Star, MI on January 9, 1943, the son of Clinton and Hazel (Carrothers) Kimmel. He graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1962.  Jimmy proudly served his country in the United States Army following graduation. Jimmy worked for General Motors for 31 years, retiring in 1997.

On April 29, 1967 Jimmy married Judy Ellen Cooper at the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Ithaca, MI.  After nearly 52 years of marriage, Jimmy still carried the graduation picture of "his girl" in his wallet and hid his extra money behind it.

Jimmy was an avid car enthusiast.  He worked on cars, raced at Crystal Motor Speedway, and loved watching NASCAR on Sundays, especially Dale Earnhardt. In his later years, Jimmy loved taking his 1964 Corvair to car shows.  He never knew a stranger and loved to talk to everyone he met while out riding his golf cart.  Jimmy especially loved his grandchildren and grand fur babies.

Jimmy is survived by his loving wife Judy, children: Jana Kimmel of Midland, Lisa Harwood of Mt. Morris, and Rich (Jennifer) Kimmel of Breckenridge; 4 grandchildren: Brett (Natalie Wilson) Byers, Jordan Harwood, Ashleigh (Jesse Adkins) Harwood, and Brandon Byers; and 1 great grandchild on the way.  He is also survived by 4 sisters: Waneta (Alton) Bigelow, Ruth (Joe) Malek, Sharilyn (Jim) Chilcoat, and Rosemary Bancroft; sister-in-law Sandra Kimmel, and many nieces and nephews.  Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Lester, Duane, Ivan; infant siblings: Bonnie, Connie, Joyce, Phyllis, Twalla, and Ronald.

Memorials may be made to Woodland Hospice, 2597 S. Meridian Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI.