James Veil

James “Jim” Veil, 75, passed away on October 28, 2026, in Johns Creek, Georgia. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 8, 1951, the son of Neal M. Veil and Grace E. (Raths) Veil. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brothers, Jerry and Kenneth. Jim grew up in Southfield, Michigan, and graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School in 1969. He went on to Michigan State University, where he earned a business degree from the School of Hospitality Business in 1974. He later served on the school’s Board of Directors and received the Hotel School’s Distinguished 75th Anniversary Year Alumni Award. At Michigan State, he met his college sweetheart, Gwen Kerr, and they married in 1973.

He began his career with the Walt Disney World Company, spending years managing restaurants at the Contemporary Hotel, the Polynesian Village Resort Hotel, the Lake Buena Vista Golf Club, and Disney Springs. He then managed Marriott hotels in Florida and went on to spend 25 years with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He retired from Marriott as a regional vice president, a role that gave him the opportunity to open luxury hotels and travel the world. He also spent time with the InterContinental Hotels Group and loved his time in Washington, D.C., at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel, one block from the White House.

After retiring, Jim became president of TWELVE Hotels and Residences, a startup boutique hotel company in Atlanta, Georgia. Later, he opened his own successful consulting business, Veil

Consulting, and spent years serving clients around the country.

He completed his distinguished career opening the award-winning Hotel Walloon in northern Michigan. It was a wonderful way to end a more than 50-year career in hospitality.

He is survived by his wife, Gwen; their three children, Timothy (Lisa) Veil, Melissa (Ben) Lester, and Jessica (Jake) Sepmeyer; and eight grandchildren, who were the lights of his life: Emma, Annie, and Grace Veil; Amy and Andrew Lester; and Sam, Sarah, and Nathan Sepmeyer.

He is also survived by his very close sisters- and brothers-in-law, Calvin Kerr, Chris and Tom Jury, Betsy and Dan Reid, Deborah Veil, and Pauline Veil, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and

friends.

Jim’s favorite times were spent with the wonderful family he and Gwen created, relaxing at their home in Georgia, and golfing and fishing at the cottage in northern Michigan. He will be truly missed

by all those who are fortunate enough to have known him.

A private family service will be held at the People’s Church in East Lansing, Michigan, where Jim and Gwen were married in 1973, followed by a private burial in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the People’s Church in East Lansing, Michigan, or the American Association for Cancer Research