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James KIng

March 20, 2021
Kalamazoo, MI

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King, James P. Kalamazoo James Phillip King passed away peacefully on Saturday March 20, 2021 at the age of 90. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to the late Thomas and Marie King. Jim graduated from St. Rita's High School in Chicago and then served in the United States Air Force as a meteorologist monitoring the weather patterns in Europe from Morocco. On the GI bill, he earned degrees at Michigan State University (B.S., in forest management, 1957; Ph.D., in forest genetics, 1964) and Oregon State University (M.F., in forest management, 1958). In 1963, he married Mary Guenther, having met her on the MSU campus when the two were grad students. Jim was a geneticist, who began his career in 1962 at the Institute of Forest Genetics in Rhinelander, Wisconsin studying methods for cultivating disease-free jack pine; he then spent time at the University of Minnesota, before returning to Rhinelander with computer knowledge. In 1972, he transferred to the Berkeley Institute of Forest Genetics where he worked on identifying the most suitable species of eucalyptus for reforesting in California. Because of the U.S. fuel crisis in 1978, he was transferred to the Honolulu Institute of Forest Genetics and began planting the fast-growing eucalyptus on the islands with the purpose to be harvested to provide fuel and other wood products. He continued his work life in Portville, NY as Village Clerk and in Kalamazoo for Friend of the Court. Jim was a devoted family man, a wonderful husband and amazing father. He loved jazz, comedy, western novels, long walks or drives with his wife, gardening, raspberry pie and chocolate ice cream (though not together). His wit was razor sharp and while he was often the funniest guy in the room, he was never the loudest. He was reserved, he did not wear his heart on his sleeve; it was way too big for that. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Eleanor Carpenter brother-in-law Herbert Carpenter and sister-in-law Sally Guenther. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary King; children: Joe (Teri) King, Bob (Dr. Kristin Moss) King, Daniel (Michelle) King and Kathryn Dennis; grandchildren: Joseph, Jacob, Ryne, August, Jessica, Jimmy and Hailei; great-granddaughter, Erin Evans; brother-in-law Robert Guenther and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Portage, Michigan State University Department of Forestry, or to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Jim's family plans to hold a memorial gathering at a later time. Please visit Jim's online guest book to leave a condolence, personal message or memory of him at https://www.langelands.com