James A. Walker

Our family was so saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. Two sons and a son-in-law were wrestlers under his tutelage and thought the world of him. As neighbors for many years we enjoyed his sense of humor and downright “niceness”! He will be missed by many, many people besides us and we send our prayers and love.

It is with a heavy heart that I send condolences from Pat and I to Marlene, Brian, Steve, and the rest of the Walker family on the passing of my friend and mentor, Jim Walker. We began our Lansing teaching careers together at Pattengill Jr. High School in the fall of 1965. For the next 35 yeaars our lives were magically intertwined through the sport of Wrestling.

When Jim became the Wrestling coach at Eastern he took me under his wing and taught a guy who had never set foot on a wrestling mat how to wrestle and coach the Eastern way. When I became the wrestling coach at Pattengill in 1970, He spent every lunch hour with me preparing a practice plan for each and every practice. For the next 35 years I never went to a practice without a plan. Over the years we shared the thrill of a team state championship and and joy of coaching many individual state champions, including one Olympic Champion.

Any sucess I had as a coach, I owe to Jim. He belived in me and mentored me until I believed in myself. I am eternaly grateful.

In the span of a teacher’s/coach’s career we touch the lives of perhaps 7,000 to 10,000 young people. Those that learned under the steady and caring hand of Jim Walker were truly blessed. I know I am.

Nobody could have captured my own memories of Coach Walker better than my dad. Coach Walker was our hero, mentor, coach and friend. We both loved the man, and he we credit him with shaping our success as coaches, teachers and men. My condolences to the entire Walker family, especially to his wife, Marlene, and my friends Brian and Steve.

I grew up with all the Walker boys in Valley Farms..so I have the known the whole family since I was very young, but got to know Mr. Walker as my biology teacher at Eastern, a kind loving man who cared for each of his students..
Hugs and Prayers to the whole Walker Family..my heart to sad for you all!

My condolences to my Aunt Marlene and my cousins Brian and Steve for the loss of their husband and father.

Uncle Jim was always a great man. I remember my father (Barry) talking about him. He looked up to him and wanted to be like him. I also wanted to be like him and my cousins ( Brian, Steve and Jason ).

I had the pleasure of being in his biology class. He was an outstanding teacher. My greatest memory is being coached by him in wrestling my freshman year (the last year that he coached ).He encouraged me to recruit kids from my class to come out for wrestling. He made me proud to be a Walker and an Eastern Quaker.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Walker family. May you find much peace in all your wonderful memories!

Rest easy Mr Walker!!

Jance Greene
(Your favorite student of all time)

My condolences to the Walker family. Mr Walker was such an inspiration person to all that graced the hallways of Eastern HS. I was lucky enough to be a student aid my senior year for Mr Walker and he taught me so much and I was able to learn from him everything from school, Wrestling and more importantly what it takes to be a good person in this life that we live. As a second generation wrestler at Eastern, I learned a lot from Coach Walker and what he knew and his thoughts on wrestling. My dad, Frank Porco, would tell me stories about when he wrestled at Eastern and had Coach Walker as his coach and he would always remember him as a tough coach who got him and other Wrestlers ready for competition, which their team became Team State Champions. This motivated me to wrestle and try to become a state champion(3rd place). I will always be thankful for Coach Walker, Koz, Nesbit and Pochert(father and son) to leading by example and show what it takes to become a great wrestler and good person outside of wrestling. Thank you so much Coach Walker for everything, Quaker for Life!

Mr. Walker was a great influence on me and demonstrated all the things we need to live a successful and good life. Conpassion belief strength determination and perserverce all while being witty, entertaining and committed.

Please accept my condolences

On behalf of the Tony and Bobbie Thias Family we send our deepest condolences to the Walker Family. My parents, as well as thousands of other parents, loved Coach. His relationships extended well outside gymnasiums and classrooms and his inspirations, pleasant demeanor, lessons for life, and love for his teams and students will be always remembered. With sympathy, Tom and John Thias

My deepest condolences to the Walker family on the loss of a wonderful man. As a student at Eastern High School I had occasional contact with Mr. Walker and always found him to be one of the most quietly honorable men I’d ever met. Never judgmental, always kind, always helpful. I was lucky enough to join a school-related canoeing and camping trip which Mr. Walker co-chaperoned one summer. After a day of us boys being particularly irresponsible and selfish, Mr. Walker had a heart-to-heart talk with us, and it was something I’ve never forgotten. In that talk, he showed me what it meant to be a man. Kind, honest, empathetic, but with clear expectations of behavior from those around him. And the ability and willingness to teach a young man how to achieve those things. He was the best kind of mentor; the kind who shows how it’s done, by doing it himself. The world is a better place for Mr. Walker having been in it. Rest easy, Mr. Walker, and thank you.

I’m sorry to hear this news. Mr Walker was my favorite teacher. He taught my biology class. It is the most memorable class because it was fun. We had a blast and learned so much. There was never a boring day of sitting around. He made sure our learning was hands on. I’ll never forget the turtle I got for his class and dissecting frogs! I hope his family finds comfort in knowing that he made such a big difference at LEHS.

Jim and I were on the football team and our children were classmates. After a class reunion, he, Marlene, Joan and I began enjoying trips and events. Adventures include biking and air boating in the Everglades, exploring New York City, touring Gettysburg and Valley Forge. We further enjoyed fishing on the Great Lakes and kayaking the Manistee River.

Jim and Marlene joined the Capital Arbor of Gleaner Life where we planned and assisted families, adults and children in need of help. Jim was the chaplain. His strength of character and faith in others affected many lives. His sense of humor, spirit, intellect, and guidance influenced the lives of all who knew him. There is a special place in heaven for James A. Walker

My condolences to the Mrs. Walker and the family. Mr. Walker, was considered by my grandfather, Blagoy G. Pogoncheff to be what we call best friends today.

Mr. Walker not only helped, but changed my grandfathers life, possibly maybe saving his life. He gave him additional purpose. A purpose around wrestling. He would completely enjoy being around Mr. Walker and the wrestling meets. Having been in the Army now 11 years, I know what PTS is and can generally identify it. My grandfather definitely had it.

Mr. Walker helped him probably not even knowing my grandfather suffered from it, resulting from combat in WW2 CBI which my grandfather was very proud of. Now that I personally know what PTS is, he gave my grandfather opportunities which many different people did not back then.

Mr. Walker also changed my life in high school. He was an inspiration no matter whether you wrestled or not. Being the son and grandson of wrestlers, I was expected to wrestle. Mr. Walker pulled me aside one day outside his practice and said, “little Pogo, you really aren’t interested in this are you?” I said, “no Mr. Walker I am not”. Mr. Walker said something to me I never forget in certain form of words, Mr. Walker said, “follow your passion, its obvious this is not your thing but follow your heart.” Having him for a Biology Teacher itself was amazing, he wanted you to push yourself educationally. Mr. Walker was the example of leadership I wish to be and strive to be while on Active Duty in the Army. He was a leader and was a example to follow. He believed in strictness and standards and pushing yourself to the max. And at the same time providing that support you require when in time of need.

In not only my house growing up, but in my Grandfather’s house and cousins houses, Mr. Walkers name “Jim and Marlene” were treated with respect and love. After graduation and college, even into marriage, Mr. Walker was part of our family. The respect and love he showed my grandparents and my family was something your not going to find easy now a days. Even after my grandparents deaths he would inquire about my sister and I from time to time. Mr. Walker was cut from a different cloth. A cloth I can once again strive to become. I did not know he was in the Army either. Probably another great thing my grandfather and him would talk about.

His legacy will continue to live on in all of us Eastern grads and the standards, respect and love he showed above all. God bless him and his family. I am saddened by his passing and will pray for his family.

My deepest condolences to the Walker family. Coach Walker will be missed greatly and already has been for those of his former students who hadn’t seen him in years. Sending loving prayers to his wife and family at this time. May you all find peace and comfort knowing he left such a legacy and he will always be remembered!!

knowing Jim Walker was I felt an honor. As a senior myself I have been close to many if my peers but Jim stood out as true sincere friend,husband,father ,grandfather,teacher and coach.His character was outstanding.Although he stood a head above the rest you learned this not from what he told you but just from the amazing man he was.I loved his friendship…I loved him.He will go where all good people go……Home!

Marlene and Family
Words cannot express the great loss that we feel for our Hall of Fame Wrestling coach, outstanding science teacher and GREAT FRIEND. We are thankful for the many great times we shared and look forward to many more with you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, God Bless.
Bill and Jane Allen