James M. McColgan, II

McCOLGAN, James M. II Age 91, beloved patriarch of the McColgan family, went to be with the Lord and his late family on January 5, 2022. He was born in Saginaw, Michigan on August 2, 1930, to the late Elizabeth (Morrison) and Arthur Joseph McColgan. He attended St. Andrew’s High School, Saginaw, MI, class of 1948. He was captain of the football team and held the scoring record of 122 points, not just for the parochial league, but for Saginaw County. This record held for many decades. He scored six touchdowns in one game in the victorious "battle of the cousins" against St. Peter and Paul, the team on which his cousin Art played. He was inducted into the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame on November 4, 2005. He was recruited by Duffy Daugherty for Michigan State head coach Biggie Munn and played freshman football in 1948. He left college after one year to assist his father and family in the operation of M & B Ice Cream. He was the President and General Manager of the M & B Ice Cream Company, which was founded in 1909 by his grandfather, James M. McColgan I (born in County Donegal, Ireland). He married the love of his life, Jane L. Banning, on January 27, 1951, and together they raised five children in a very loving and lively household. In the mid-60s, he worked as a sales manager for Sealtest Dairy in Detroit. In the late 60s, he and his brother, John A. McColgan, formed M & B Distributing and moved the company to Flint, Michigan. In 1971, he bought out John’s share of the company so that John could pursue his law practice. He then became the chairman of the board of M & B Distributing. With the assistance of his wonderful wife and family, the company expanded into a multi-state operation, brokerage, juice production operation, etc. In 1988, he and his family made the decision to acquire Hamady Complete Food Centers and operated the company until 1991. James loved his employees/associates from M & B, Hamady, and all the businesses he owned. He loved golf, playing gin and was a member and President of Atlas Valley Country Club as well as a member at Warwick Hills and the Flint Golf Club. He enjoyed traveling to Florida in the winter.

He was a kind, caring, warm, and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many. He loved his family most of all. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jane, the love of his life, son Aaron, daughters Patricia and Angela, sisters, Elizabeth M. Roberts, Patricia M. Zapf, Joanne M. Hanlon, and brother John A. McColgan. He leaves behind two daughters, Mary Anne and husband James Sheppard, Jamie Ann and husband David Karn, and two sons, James M. McColgan III (Jimmy) and wife Kim, Robert M. McColgan (Robbie) and wife Doreen, granddaughters, Kelly Kilbreath, Lindsay Misch, Carly Knoll, Ashley Kipus, Chloe Truxton, Chandler McColgan, grandsons, Jason Sheppard, Reggie McColgan, Austin McColgan Taylor, Andrew McColgan Taylor, many great-grandchildren, and sister Mary McColgan Wasserman.

The family wants to thank all of the staff and friends who cared for him at Wellbridge of Grand Blanc and Ascension Genesys. Most importantly, Dad wanted to thank all the guys at the table as well as the managers and staff at the Elias Brothers Big Boy Restaurant in Grand Blanc. He leaves behind many close friends, especially Spike Pearson (Dad treated Spike like a son), Dick Knight, (Dad’s famous St. Mike’s opponent) Louie Barger, Jim Tubbs, Sam Siegel, Bill Glass and Stan Ring.

Due to Covid, only immediate family to attend the Funeral Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church, 11824 South Saginaw Rd, Grand Blanc, Michigan. The Mass will be livestream at 11 a.m. Monday, January 10, 2022 @ YouTube: Holy Family Parish Grand Blanc and @ Facebook: Church of the Holy Family.

. Father David Howell will officiate the mass and the burial at Evergreen Cemetery. Those desiring to make donations may make them to Compassus Hospice in the name of James M. McColgan.

Our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much. They were his pride, pleasure, joy and love. He bragged about all of his children to everyone he could.

Dad will be sadly missed and loved forever.