James F. Wolter

After a courageous, two-year fight against cancer, James Frederick “Captain Jimmy” Wolter lost the battle on Friday, December 16, 2011. He was born March 12, 1946. Jimmy graduated from Everett High School. He retired from the City of Lansing. He was currently of Lansing, MI and Ruskin, FL. Jimmy was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Dorothy Wolter, and his sister, Ruth. He is survived by many close friends and cousins.

Jimmy enjoyed his cottage and friends on Jordan Lake in Lake Odessa. His Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day parties at the lake for friends and neighbors were the hit of the seasons. He was instrumental in organizing classic car events and made friends from near and far who shared his interest. He loved landscaping, keeping up with current events, and his Avanti, which was his pride and joy.

Jimmy would want to thank the many doctors, nurses, and the staff members at Ingham Medical Breslin Cancer Unit and The Pines for their loving care. He would also want to extend his thanks and appreciation to his friend, neighbor and caregiver, during his illness, Karole Brown, who was “with him to the end.”

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service is being planned at Emanuel First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1001 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing, on Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. As he wished, a party for Jimmy’s friends and family will follow at Leo’s Outpost on Pennsylvania Avenue in Lansing. Arrangements by Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

Print Obituary

13 Messages to “James F. Wolter

Print Messages
Ruth "Geyer" Taliaferro
December 19, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Jim and I go back a long way. His Dad was my teacher for grades 1-3 at Trinity Lutheran School. I walked his sister home. Jim was a friend to my brother in their younger days. Je is now in the hands of “Our God”.

Reply
Karole Brown
December 19, 2011 at 5:46 pm

Jimmy taught me what courage is all about. He promised I would have many new friends through knowing him, and he was absolutely correct. Not only did I meet his friends, but the many people who cared for him at Ingham Medical Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital, and The Pines have given me a new view of caring, sharing and love. God brought this experience to me through Jimmy, and I am thankful for being shown the way to help him.

Reply
Linda Watson
December 19, 2011 at 6:10 pm

I was blessed to have such a good friend in Jim for 36 years. He is one of the first people I met when moving to Lansing. I especially enjoyed our talks of life, real talks that just don’t seem to happen that much anymore. He taught me the love of music, our Lake Michigan tape, just rides, history discussions, Pentwater, concerts, looking at boat yards, how important to do your very best at work etc etc. Jimmy was a very intelligent man. A true friend who will be missed so very, very, much.

Reply
Susie and Mark Galat
December 19, 2011 at 6:35 pm

I consider Jimmy to have been a dear friend of mine and was so saddened to hear of his illness and then passing. I remember his huge heart and zest for life. Even though time would pass between our visits I still considered him a good friend, I thank you Jimmy for over 30 years of friendship.

Reply
Tom & Coraline Tilford
December 19, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Jimmy we are going to miss you. Your lound laughs in in the Summer afternoons and the “happy hour” bell ringing it’s time for a cool one. It just will not be the same without you.
Tom and Coraline

Reply
Sue Ainslie
December 20, 2011 at 12:04 am

I’ve not met Jimmy, except through Karole Brown a dear friend of mine for over 40 years. I can only imagine how grateful he must have been to have Karole for a friend and caretaker. Karole is clearly “one in a million” friend. I’m sure that Jimmie felt the same, and I wish that I could have met Karole’s friend, Jimmy. As another wrote, “he is now in the hands of Our God”. I hope that he rests in peace after so much suffering.

Reply
Jim Simmons
December 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Jim was one of my oldest and best friends. I moved in across the street from him in 1957, and we spent our adolesent and adult years as close friends. We played, went to school, learned to drive, ate and drank, worked, dated, traveled, worshiped, celebrated, and suffered together. Altough I will truly miss Jim, I am happy he is in Heaven now, and no longer has to suffer the pain of cancer no more. I will always remember him for the fun and good times we had together, and the everlasting friendship we shared.

Reply
Matt Mannino
December 20, 2011 at 2:46 pm

So very sorry for the Wolters family’s loss. I had not met him but remember his Avanti very well at all the different shows. I wish him eternal rest & peace.

Matt Mannino
(Capital Area Muscle Car Club)

Reply
Phil Tinney
December 20, 2011 at 4:22 pm

I first met Jimmy when we both worked in downtown Lansing. Spent lunch time gabbing on the mall. Will miss visiting him & his roomate Griff at the lake, & the deep fried turkeys we ate. Will always remember when Jimmy let me drive his Avanti, & the boat rides. Its fitting that the last time we spoke, was at the riverfront car show. May you rest in peace with the lord.

Reply
Ben & Judy Perdue
December 21, 2011 at 1:18 am

We are both going to miss Jimmy. Ben first met Jimmy when he came to work for the city. Jimmy had worked at a jewlery store before coming to work for the city and he sported a large cluster ring. He was known as “diamond Jim” for several years. Ben and Jimmy worked together in the parks department and retired together. After retirement we moved and did not see as much of Jimmy, but we still kept in touch. We visited him in Florida and had a few drinks at the “Tiki bar”, and he stopped in to see us a few times on his way to Florida. We will miss his smiling face, his love for life and the good friend that he was. Rest in peace Jimmy.

Reply
Suzanne Moore
December 22, 2011 at 1:18 pm

Jimmy will be missed. I remember him and his cigar. He was a good man. May the memories of Jimmy bring comfort to you.

Reply
Jan Kerby-Moor
July 11, 2015 at 1:08 pm

I have been looking for my friend from years ago for 5 yrs. I finally found him in a most upsetting way. I will miss you forever!

Reply
William Seward
May 14, 2020 at 1:33 pm

I had been trying to locate Jimmy for a few years now and had given up. But then I came to the realization that his name was Wolter, not Wolters. I was sad to see that he had passed, but knew he was with the Lord now. Jimmy was a good friend, we went to Everett High together and lived 1 block apart just off Holmes Road on Schlee St. He was the one that encouraged me to become a DTW (Down Town Worker) as he put it! I worked at Marshall Music, and then Kositcheks Clothing Store, and he worked at a jewelry store, Zales, I think. In fact he sold me my Wife’s engagement ring set. And to top it all off, Jimmy became my Best Man at our wedding on September 30th, 1967. I wish I knew that he had been living in Ruskin Florida at one time, (for how long I don’t know,) but we’ve lived here for 35 years. Had I known I definitely have contacted him. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments of his friends that enjoyed knowing him for a longer time than I had the opportunity of. My Wife had given him the nickname “Jimmy Mack” shortly after our Marriage. I wish we could have known him as “Captain Jimmy”.

Reply

Please Sign The Guestbook

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *