James McClurken

James “Jim” W. McClurken age 87, of Grand Rapids, MI passed from this life on February 6, 2022. He was born in Grand Rapids in the summer of 1934 to the late Cleaman and Pearl McClurken. Along with his parents Jim is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Joanne R. [Tanis] McClurken and his son Brian McClurken, daughter Nora Lee Baker, daughter-in-law Christine McClurken, brothers Cleamon McClurken and Ralph W. McClurken and sisters Jenavieve [McClurken] Wynsma and Margie [McClurken] Elsbury. Jim will be missed by the family members who survive him. His children, James M. McClurken and Sergei Kvitko, Timothy and Elizabeth McClurken, Kevin and Cindy McClurken, Cynthia McClurken and Douglas Hoople and Daniel and Claudia McClurken. His grandchildren, Yolonda McClurken, Timothy McClurken, Shaun McClurken, Tricia McClurken Chupp, Josh McEwen, Alyson Yeats, Kimberly Easler, Keith McClurken, Shaena McClurken Ziegler, Casey McClurken, Christopher McClurken, Elizabeth McClurken Diasparra, Victoria McClurken Andujar, Brandon Baker and by great-grandchildren, Brendon Graham, Nathan Graham, Joycelyn McClurken, Melania McClurken, MaKenzie Seiler, Hannah McClurken, Abigale McClurken, Olivia McClurken, Sylvia McClurken, Solomon McClurken, Lena McClurken, Kelsey McClurken, MaKailah Chupp, Caitlyn Chupp, Alayna Zeigler, Kaylee Zeigler, Brian Zeigler, Christopher Fitzgerald, Leonardo Diasperra, Penelope Diasperra, Cecelia Diasperra, Bryssen Easler, Harper Easler and Salem Andujar. Jim supported his family working in underground construction for fifty years, laying many of the water-mains and sewers in the expanding Grand Rapids suburbs but his love was farming. He raised and cared for many cattle, goats and horses during his eight decades. In his retirement, Jim continued to farm and spent time with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He and his wife, Joanne, were active member of Grand Valley Baptist Church for sixty years. The family will meet with visitors at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, (2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504) on Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 6-8 pm. Services officiated by Pastor Dan Heistand, will be held at Grand Valley Baptist Church, (O-3186 River Hill Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534) on Friday, February 11, 2022 at 11 am with visitation prior beginning at 10 am. Jim will be laid to rest next to Joanne in Rosedale Memorial Park. Contributions in his memory may be made to Grand Valley Baptist Church. To read more about Jim's life, to sign his guest book and to leave your own memory of him, visit his web page at www.heritagelifestory.com