James Dale Summerfield

James Dale Summerfield, Zilwaukee, Michigan
Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family, just after celebrating his 89th birthday. Son of the late Lyle and Dorothy (Hax) Summerfield, James was born November 7, 1935, in Saginaw, Michigan. He married Margaret Ann Dashner, his loving wife of 66 years, on April 28, 1956. She predeceased him January 3, 2023. He was employed at Saginaw Steering Gear as an Engineer retiring in 1989. He lived his entire life in Zilwaukee, was the Mayor of Zilwaukee from 1966 to 1985 and was a very devoted servant to the Zilwaukee community. He was a longtime faithful member of St. Matthew Catholic Church and St. John Paul II Catholic Church and was very proud of his time serving as a volunteer Firefighter for the Zilwaukee Fire Department. He was a member of Covenant Health Care Auxiliary serving as president for several years. He was also involved in and served on many other local boards and committees, including Healthsource Saginaw, The Friendship Games, Knights of Columbus and Sons of Italy. He was very influential in ensuring that the City of Zilwaukee continued to have a community park after the new Zilwaukee Bridge displaced the existing park. James loved traveling and dinners with Margaret and their many friends. It brought him great joy to attend his grandchildren's many events.
Surviving to cherish his memory are one daughter and one son, Ann (Mark) Landra, Saginaw; James (Suzette) Summerfield, Freeland; four grandchildren, Tanner Landra, Kelsey Landra, Michael (Samantha) Summerfield (and boys Braxtyn and Oaklyn Post) and Matthew (Mikayla) Summerfield; his sister, Patricia West; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Hoff; several nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by two brothers, David and Lyle Summerfield.
Funeral Liturgy will take place 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2024 at St. John Paul II Catholic Church, 469 Shattuck Rd., Saginaw, Michigan. Rev. Fr. William Rutkowski will officiate. Honoring Mr. Summerfield's wishes, cremation will follow. Private inurnment will take place in St. Andrew Cemetery. Friends may visit at the Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd. (between Shattuck and McCarty), where the family will be present on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. The Zilwaukee Fire Department will honor James with a walk through 6:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the St. John Paul II Catholic Church, Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan or to the wishes of the family. Please share memories and condolences with the family at snowfuneralhome.net