James was born the son of James and Frances (Behm) Fink in Detroit, Michigan on April 14, 1929. He graduated from St. Martin Deporres High School in Detroit, class of 1946 and served stateside in the US Army, in the 101st Airborne Division during the Korean War. James married Sandra Alsbury on February 8, 1964 in Hazel Park, Michigan and the couple raised their family in Oak Park. James worked for Michigan Bell for 44 years, retiring in 1991. He was a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church.
James loved sports and in his later years, watching the Detroit football, basketball, and hockey teams were a joy to him. Throughout his life he enjoyed travel around the world, including Egypt, Europe, and all over the United States.
James is survived by his children Cynthia (Martin) Krueger and Bryan (Theresa) Fink; grandchildren Melody (Zach) Dowland, Lindsy (Brandon) Gates, and Cully Fink; great-grandchildren Ellie Dowland, Jackson Dowland, Ivy Dowland, Willow Dowland, Rosalee Dowland, Juniper Dowland, and Sylvia Gates. James was predeceased by his wife Sandra Fink; parents James and Frances Fink; and siblings Charles Russell and Margaret Yasenchak.
All are invited to a visitation on Wednesday May 17, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Thursday May 18th, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 W. University Drive in downtown Rochester Michigan. Burial will be at a later date at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan.
Memorial contributions may be made in James’s honor to The Wounded Warriors Project online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or with envelopes at Pixley Funeral Home.
