LifeStoryNet.com

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

 

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

James Hastings

April 2, 2020
Kalamazoo, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg

Obituary


Print

Died April 2, 2020. James was born June 27, 1926 in Madison Wisconsin, youngest of two children to Charles and Bertha (Haines) Hastings. He spent his childhood on the East side of Madison and around Dane County with many Aunts/Uncles and cousins to Lakes and cabins for hunting, canoeing, swimming. In Eighth grade he met Margaret Oliverson. They took bus rides to The Square for ice cream and movies...they rode bikes and went on double dates: it was a time of War. They married in 1947. James completed a Pharmacy Degree at the University of Wisconsin. He, Margaret, and their toddler Nancy moved to Kalamazoo in the early 1950's to work at the Upjohn Co. They moved to Portage in 1959 to raise their family. They loved neighbors, community, and beautiful SW Michigan. They joined The United Methodist Church on Park St. where friends, faith, and fun were foundations for their entire lives. James skied and helped construct the Kalamazoo Ski Club with its basic hut and single rope tow in the 1960's. He sailed at Gull Lake and Up North Michigan. He joined the Investment Club before "ETF's" and Robo Advisors. He assembled a HAM radio and loved the "connections". After retirement, James worked at the Oakwood Pharmacy for a few years. The family camped all over the USA in the Ford station wagon and "pop up" camper. Margaret and James later joined friends every March in Gulf Shores, Ala. and Quail Creek, Az. They visited Hawaii, Texas, and many US States, the Caribbean, Novia Scotia, The UK, Germany, Norway and France. They walked the Mackinac Bridge with friends: visiting the Mich. shoreline was a favorite, along with trips to back to Wisconsin to visit friends and family. James biked the Kal- Haven Trail, volunteered at Habitat, Lending Hands, Library Board [and others]. He and Margaret loved competitive bridge, piano playing and singing with friends. Grilling out on his hand laid brick patio with the Weber grill was a frequent activity. In 2015, James and Margaret became residents at Friendship Village in Kalamazoo. The companions and help were special, particularly after Margaret's death in 2017. James was aided in his final hours by S.W. Mich Hospice. James is preceded in death by his parents, sister Martha Evans, and wife Margaret. He is survived by two sisters-in law: Jean Roark and Connie Perra, both of Madison WI, nieces and nephews and three surviving children: Nancy [Harold] Elkan, Laura [Fraser] Mackay and Jeffrey Hastings. Cremation has taken place. Donations in James' memory: Habitat 1126 Gull Rd Kalamazoo/ FUMC S. 212 S. Park St. Kalamazoo. Please visit Jim's personalized webpage for online guestbook or to leave a condolence. Arrangements were made by the Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 622 S Burdick St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. https://www.langelands.com