James "Jim" Wetherill

1930 - 2019

James "Jim" Wetherill

Battle Creek - James "Jim" Wetherill, age 88, of Battle Creek, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2019. He was born September 1, 1930 in Battle Creek, Michigan the son of Durward and Cecelia (Kaufman) Wetherill. A 1949 graduate of Lakeview High School, he went on to serve in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. Jim achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded two Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, as well as the Syngmon Rhee Citation. He was employed for thirty-one years at Franklin Electric Company, formerly Battle Creek Packaging and was plant manager when the company closed the Battle Creek plant in 1981. From 1981 until his retirement in 1996 he was employed by Lakeview Hardware. Jim was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and was active in the Lakeview Food Pantry for many years. He was an avid bowler and enjoyed helping his neighbors as well as caring for animals and birds. On November 5, 1955 he was married to Janet E. Gray, who survives. Also surviving are his daughter Roberta L. Wetherill-Zull of Battle Creek and a brother Charles M. (Joyce) Wetherill of San Tan Valley, Arizona, as well as several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home on Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be directed to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church or Humane Society of South Central Michigan. www.henryfuneralhome.org