Jim G. Granlund

James Granlund made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was an accomplished ornithologist, the author of two books, a frequent volunteer in many nature societies, and a popular and demanding chemistry teacher. James loved nature, and he was the happiest when he was sharing this passion with his students, friends, and beloved family.

The 1950's marked a time of growth throughout America. With the end of the Second World War, thousands of young servicemen returned home to their civilian lives. Industry expanded to meet peacetime demands, and the baby boom was quickly underway. William and Frances Balbierz Granlund were among the many expecting parents, and on February 5, 1957 they welcomed their son James Garrett into their home in Gaylord, Michigan.

As a young boy Jim discovered a love for nature that would follow him throughout his life. He enjoyed a peaceful childhood in Gaylord, where he grew up with the company of his older brother David. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he was an active member of the Boy Scouts. He graduated to the level of Eagle Scout and was also admitted the Order of the Arrow, an honorary society for experienced campers dedicated to the ideal of cheerful service. An exemplary Arrowman, Jim was also active in civic affairs and took a keen interest in his community.

Jim attended Gaylord High School where he demonstrated himself as a strong student with a special gift for argumentation. As a member the school's debate team, Jim attended the State finals several times. His well-structured arguments and clarity of speech aided him in competition; these talents would also serve him later in life, when he began his teaching career.

After graduating from Gaylord High School with honors in 1975, Jim was admitted to the National Science Foundation Camp, a competitive program which selects only two students per state each year.

Jim's experience at the NSF Camp helped ignite his interest in chemistry and biology. Following the summer, he enrolled at Northern Michigan University where he double-majored in chemistry and biology and also earned his teaching certificate. He also continued to explore his love for the outdoors through research opportunities, such as scuba-diving in Lake Superior to study sediments. After graduating in 1980 he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he continued his education at Western Michigan University.

Jim began his career as a teacher shortly after his graduation. He taught at Hopkins for two years, before transferring to Comstock High School where he taught chemistry for the next twenty-three years. Teaching was part of Jim's family legacy, as he shared the profession with both his father and brother. Jim loved teaching and played an important role for many of his students. He earned lots of awards from his students, including favorite teacher. For Jim, teaching was all about the kids. By running a challenging classroom, he made certain that his students were prepared for college. Many of Jim's former students returned to Comstock to visit with him.

At Northern Michigan University Jim met a young woman named Cheryl Putman. Though she belonged to the class of 1976, they were enrolled in the same fish management course. She and Jim quickly fell in love, and on August 23, 1980 they were married in Cheryl's hometown of Troy, Michigan. Jim and Cheryl shared a love for nature, and many of their favorite memories include the active vacations they took together. Over the years they visited many national parks and often went river-rafting, hiking, and kayaking.

Jim and Cheryl were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Laura. As a father, Jim was full of love and devotion; he always put his daughters first and worked hard to provide them with many opportunities. When his daughters needed to get somewhere, Jim was the taxi driver; when they were part of an activity, Jim was always there to cheer them on. Hannah and Laura also inherited their father's love for nature, and they often accompanied him on camping trips. Since Jim often took photos of his girls, many happy family memories are recorded on film.

Jim had a keen passion for ornithology, the scientific study of birds. He identified over 3000 species, and loved to travel in search of more. One of his favorites was the chickadee, a small songbird identifiable by its black cap and throat. Jim banded birds for the Kalamazoo Nature Center and did study skins for education. Every Christmas he compiled a bird count for Michigan State records. He volunteered numerous hours, even days, for the Audubon Society, a non-profit environmental organization whose goal of nature conservancy strongly resonated with Jim's personal beliefs. He was also on the board of directors for the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. Jim was the lead author for "The Birds of Michigan" and was the editor of "Michigan Birds of Natural History." Recently, he discovered a love for a different flying creature-the butterfly. Jim aimed to identify one hundred species of butterfly this year, and at his last count he had topped his goal with 103.

With his inexhaustible curiosity, Jim always saw a world that was worthy of his interest and exploration. He believed that he could do whatever he set his mind to, and this was one of the most important lessons that he handed down to his daughters and many students. Jim was loved by all who knew him; among his family, many friends, and students, he will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Jim died suddenly at the Borgess Health Center in Kalamazoo on September 20, 2005. Learn more about Jim and visit with his family on Saturday from 10 AM- Noon at the Comstock High School Auditorium, where his memorial service will follow at Noon. His family includes his wife, Cheryl Granlund; children: Hannah Kelly & Laura Marie; parents: William & Frances Granlund of Gaylord; brother: David & Carol Granlund of Gaylord; father-in-law: Robert & Peg Putman of Florida; sister-in-law: Brenda & Scott Engh of Minnesota; brother-in-law: Alan & Pam Putman of Arizona; and nieces & nephews: Brianna, Elyse, Kurt, Ben, and Alana. He will be truly missed by the many people who benefited from his efforts and teachings.

Please visit Jim's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory, order flowers, or make a memorial donation to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory in care of the Michigan Audubon Society. Jim's family was cared for by the RDMG Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel.