James "Jim" John Dorr

Passed away peacefully Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Jackson, MI with his loving wife, Martha of 65 years by his side. Jim was born in Chicago, IL to Orrin Sr. and Marcella Dorr. The family Bakery on Lincoln Ave was a local favorite for many years and then the family moved to the farm in Lawrence, MI. Jim graduated Lawrence High School and attended Western Michigan University where he met Martha Wanink in Biology class but their paths never crossed again until he by chance attended the Lawton, MI Centennial the summer of 1958. There she was working as a nurse in the first aide booth. They were inseparable and married eight months later on Easter Sunday, March 29, 1959. They lived in the married student housing at Western Michigan University, had their first daughter, Tera while Jim continued his major in agricultural and minor in teaching to graduate in 1962. They moved to Libertyville, IL where he taught science and Martha worked as a nurse Condell Hospital. In 1965 the family moved to Paw Paw, MI and welcomed Elizabeth to the family. Jim taught health and Sex Ed at Portage Northern before he started his career with Consumers Power in Kalamazoo. As a young man Jim joined the JayCees where he met Cal Rosema. The men introduced their wives and the couples became lifelong friends. In 1973 Jim was transferred to Consumers Power downtown Jackson location in the Safety and Health Department. While he worked on many projects with the great team of the 5th floor the implementing of the companies Drug Testing Program was a great accomplishment and fun for the whole family, especially helping to calibrate the breathalyzer. Another great accomplishment was receiving the Cameron award from the National Safety Council. Jim retired in 1991 as Director of Safety and Health from Consumers Power. He worked with the Michigan Safety Counsel for a few years before driving bus for Western Schools with his daughter, Tera and Martha until they retired together in 2000. The next year they became loving Grandparents to Alyssa. He and his “little one” were always playing, working in the garden or on a project in the workshop while singing and whistling the day away. However their favorite times were camping all over the US with their great group of friends (Mills, Schrams, Tiedts and Pylman) while playing on every playground along the way.

Jim is survived by his wife, Martha (Wanink) of 65 years, daughter Elizabeth Wray, granddaughter Alyssa Wray (Matt Heath), brother Orrin Jr and his wife Fay, sister-in-laws Linda and Mary, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Orrin Sr and Marcella, daughter Tera Dorr, sister Lois (Harv) Stanley, brothers George and Charles. Special thanks to all the Henry Ford Hospice staff, they are true angels!

Please join the family to celebrate Jim’s life, share some stories and enjoy a piece of pie on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the Sandstone Congregational Church (lower level) 710 S. Sandstone Rd., Jackson, MI from 1pm to 3pm.