Life Story / Obituary
In Loving Memory of James Curtis Compere
March 7, 1958 – August 20, 2025
James Curtis Compere, age 67, entered into the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on
August 20, 2025.
Born in Fargo, North Dakota, on March 7, 1958, Jim was the son of John and Jean Compere. At
age 21, after a car accident, he turned from his sins and trusted in Christ as his Lord and Savior.
This decision shaped every aspect of his life. He devoted himself to following Christ faithfully
for almost five decades, seeking to serve others with humility and love. He especially loved to
talk with anyone and everyone about Jesus.
Jim has most recently attended two churches: the Zotung Christian Church of Grand Rapids, MI
and the Strict Baptist Church. Jim was known for his steady faith, passionate zeal, and servant’s heart. In his
vocation as a forklift driver, he not only had a reputation for being a hardworking, reliable employee but also sought
to be a witness for Christ in word and deed before His coworkers.
Jim loved the Scriptures because he loved his Savior and would spend much of his free time
reading and meditating on God’s Word. He also relished reading and listening to sermons. Jim
believed that God hears and answers prayer and so he was earnest about prayer both when alone
as well as when with others. He believed and often quoted Hebrews 12:1-2: “1 Wherefore seeing
we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before
us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.”
He is survived by his older sister, Randi and her husband Peter, as well as his younger brother
Thomas and his wife Beverly. He is preceded in death by his parents. Jim never married.
Though we grieve his loss, we rejoice that he has finished his race trusting firmly in Christ and
now beholds the glory of Christ face to face. His life is a testimony to God’s grace, and his
memory will continue to encourage all who knew him to seek the Lord and walk faithfully with
Him until the day of Christ’s return. Private funeral services attended by Jim's family and close friends have been scheduled.