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James Sytsma

September 13, 2016
Appleton, WI

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died Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at Touchmark Retirement Community. He was born in Kalamazoo on August 9, 1922 to the late Henry and Hermione (Heckema) Sytsma. He was drafted into the US Army in late 1942 and was one of the first 40 servicemen stationed in Los Alamos, NM assisting with the Manhattan Project until 1945. He was a member of the American Legion Post 36 in Kalamazoo. James married Florence Drenth on May 3, 1949 at Third Reformed Church in Kalamazoo. Continuing the family legacy, he became the 4th generation baker of Sytsma's Bakery in Kalamazoo, MI specializing in Dutch pastries and wedding cakes. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling especially to his summer home on Drummond Island, MI and winter home in Florida. Jim and Florence moved to Appleton, WI in 2003 and were members of Appleton Alliance church. They have enjoyed living the last three years in the Touchmark retirement community. Jim will be remembered as a caring man of God with a mischievous, playful personality. A special thank you to Affinity Hospice and caregivers of Touchmark for providing compassionate care. Jim is survived by his wife of 67 years, Florence; children: David (Bonnie) of Kalamazoo, MI; Dean (Theresa) of Lowell, IN; Douglas (Betsy) of Kalamazoo, MI; Donald (Eileen) of Fridley, MN; Lorie (Michael) Stoltz of Fremont, WI; and LeAnne (Dr. Phil) DeTrana of Sheboygan, WI; grandchildren: James (Cynthia), Jonathan (Melissa), Adam (Pamela) Kristi, Douglas, Eric and Tyler Sytsma, Jennifer (Steven) Johnson, Jana (Mitchell) Onda, Caylee (Robert) Lovely, Joanna (Matthew) Hansen, Mark and Suzanne Stoltz, Philip and Matthew DeTrana; great grandchildren: Madeline, Wyatt, Logan, Addison and Shaun Sytsma, Noah, Levi and Zeke Johnson, Avery Onda, Lincoln and Lucas Lovely; and brother-in-law: John (Joan) Drenth. He is further survived by other relatives and friends. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the Cooper Township Hall in Cooper Township, Kalamazoo, MI from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Post 36 in the East Cooper Cemetery at a later date. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established to benefit the Drummond Island Baptist Church Building Fund (26379 E. Jennifer Pl. Drummond Island, MI 49726). O'Connell Funeral Home Little Chute, WI 54140 oconnellfh.com