James P. McGuinness

James P. McGuinness – forever "" to his family and closest friends, passed peacefully in his sleep to meet his Lord in the early hours of Tuesday, December 19th, with his younger brother Paul at his bedside. Jimmy had been dealing with formidable health challenges for a number of years now, first from his home in Troy, then at an extended care facility in Southfield for the past few years, and most recently at William Beaumont hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.
So, his passing was not unexpected, and was a natural and inevitable step forward on Jimmy's most personal journey of his lifetime, one that each of us will also face before we know it. Jimmy leaves behind eight younger siblings, and countless other family members and friends, who will all miss him so very much.
Born the first child and oldest of eight sons and one daughter of James H. and Virgina M. McGuinness in Detroit, Michigan, Jimmy quickly became the kind of person who was "larger than life" by all who knew him. His intellectual curiosity, high energy level, infectious laughter and personal connection with everyone he knew were core personality traits that guided his life and close relationships.
Each of the 9 children of James & Virginia McGuinness were named based on biblical references in the New Testament (all of whom were named after either one of the 12 apostles or a virgin!). James the Greater was a fisherman before being called to follow Jesus, and James P. McGuinness was therefore aptly named since one of his greatest pleasures in life was being a fisherman and an avid boater and scuba diver. It does not appear that any of the apostles were also into flying (Jimmy had a pilot's license), fast cars ('57 Chevys were a favorite for many years, before a series of Corvettes) and hot motorcycles (Triumph Bonneville, upon which he loved to give his younger brothers rides which they remember vividly to this day). But Jesus was known to have been a prolific and talented story teller, and had Jimmy met him a few thousand years ago in Galilee, I suspect Jesus would have instantly recognized him as a kindred spirit in this particular regard.
Jimmy absolutely loved to engage with other people, and despite his personality which he could barely contain, he was an excellent listener. Many will recall that it could sometimes be a challenge to get equal speaking time during a conversation with Jimmy, and the designation "storyteller" may just be the one that describes him best. And his stories were captivating, relevant and timeless right up until his time for sharing them with us passed.
Now it's our turn to share our own stories, and for those who knew Jimmy well, the stories that included Jimmy in them will likely be among the most interesting to hear.
Visitation will be held at Nie Funeral Home - 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church - Village Campus, 3450 Dover Street, Dexter with Fr. Brendan Walsh officiating. Family and friends are welcome to gather beginning at 10:00 AM. Immediately following mass, burial will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery in Dexter, Michigan.
Memorial contributions in James' honor may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html