James Zoerner

Jim Zoerner, 90, of West Olive, MI passed peacefully on December 17, 2025.

He was a faithful steward of all that he was entrusted with in this life. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

Jim was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on February 17, 1935 to Hugo Jr. and Erna (Poulsen) Zoerner. He was the oldest of four children and took the role of big brother very seriously.

Most of Jim’s growing up years were spent in Camden and Russellville, Arkansas. He graduated from Russellville High School in May 1953.

After high school, Jim pursued his love of woodworking by completing a 24-month course in cabinet making at Arkansas Polytechnic College. The director of Vocation Education said, “The quality of Mr. Zoerner’s work in this course was very superior.”

Life was put on a brief pause when Jim was drafted into the Army and began serving his two years in early 1958. He spent most of his service time at Loring Air Force Base in Maine. He had the fondest memories of his time there and talked often of it, especially about the snow nearly to the telephone wires.

After the Army, Jim moved to Michigan where his parents had relocated. He made good use of his cabinet making degree by getting a job at Baker Furniture in Holland. From there he went to a small cabinet shop in Grand Haven.

As a child of vagabond parents and grandparents, Jim really wanted to put down roots. He worked hard, saved his money, and bought property adjacent to his parents in rural West Olive. He started a small Christmas tree farm to help pay the taxes on his 20 acres.

Captivated by the fire towers of his youth, Jim had an interest in fire prevention. He was part of the formation of the Port Sheldon Volunteer Fire Department. The daughter of one of the other fire fighters also captivated him, and she was to become his wife. They married in July 1966. Within a short time they built a house on his property and began a family.

Jim loved his land, he had the space for all the hobbies that called to him. He spent more than 50 years as a beekeeper, at one time managing more than 100 hives. For a brief time he also delved into maple syrup making.

Wood cutting was another joy for him. He used it to heat his home and pole barn. No wood pile was ever big enough.

In later years, he spent a lot of time in his pole barn: refinishing and fixing furniture for Bibles for Mexico, and making cutting boards and coat racks to give away. You knew Jim liked you if he gave you a pint of honey, or a cutting board. It was his way of saying “thank you”.

Jim retired from S-2 Yachts in 1997. While working there he suffered a life-changing hand injury that cut short his woodcarving hobby, but still he never let it keep him down, and he always found a way to adapt.

He was a member of Ottawa Reformed Church. He loved the people, and counted being there as a great blessing.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Kathy, in 2024, and his brother, Roy, in 1995.

He is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Glen) Huizenga; son, Craig (Tracy) Zoerner; granddaughters: Mallory Huizenga and Anna Zoerner; grandson, Evan Zoerner; brother, Tom (Martha) Zoerner; sister Janet Aalberts.

A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held in the spring.