James R. Meyer

On Sunday, March 17, 1946, Norman and Genevieve (Rutkowski/Jean Ruppert) Meyer welcomed their son James into the world. Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Jim fondly remembered his time at Whitmer High School and early jobs as a bagger at Foodtown and a caddy at one of the local golf courses.

After joining the U.S. Army in 1970, Jim trained at Fort Campbell and Fort Monmouth before being sent overseas in 1971. He served as part of the 12th Signal Group in Da Nang, the 63rd Signal Battalion in Phu Bai, and a signal battalion out of Cam Rahn Bay before returning home in 1972. He continued to have a significant interest in military history throughout the rest of his life.

History and learning in general were major parts of Jim’s life. He loved to read, and the depth of his expansive knowledge led to many interesting and passionate discussions over the years on everything from ancient military tactics to modern-day politics. Other interests included classic cars, coin collecting, physics, and theology. If you had a question, chances were good that he had an answer.

In his working life, Jim was a highly regarded welder and worked as a tool and die maker at several local shops. A strong advocate of the skilled trades, he sought to pass on his practical know-how to aspiring tradesmen by teaching a variety of classes at Owens Community College, with his last semester being Fall 2024.

The love of his life, Linda, became his wife in 1980, and they remained together until her passing in 2017. They raised their children, John and Anne, in a loving home, and both kids agree: Jim was an excellent father. He was always willing to support his family members and always had time for his children.

In his later years, Jim enjoyed culinary experimentation, watching the wildlife in his backyard, and catching up on his favorite genres of science fiction and mystery. Always up for a chat, he loved getting into discussions with folks from all walks of life and often left quite an impression with his sense of humor.

On April 9th, 2025, Jim lost a brief but intense battle with cancer and passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. He was looking forward to being reunited with Linda and the other friends and family who went before him. He is loved and will be missed by his children, John and Anne; John’s wife, Jenn; his brothers, Bill and Norman, and their wives, Martha and Marie; grandchildren, Alexander and Audrey; and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff at both the VA and University of Michigan hospitals in Ann Arbor for the excellent and compassionate care he received in his final days.

Guests are invited to come and share their memories of Jim on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd. (419-473-0300).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to the Cherry Street Mission.