James "Jim" Homer Swope

James “Jim” Homer Swope, Loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather, 78, of Vicksburg, MI, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2024.

Jim was born January 25, 1946, to Carl and Virginia Swope in Hillsdale, MI. The middle child of three, he graduated from Jonesville High School in 1964. Immediately after high school and following in his father’s footsteps, he started a tool-and-die apprenticeship at Allied Products Corp. in Hillsdale, MI.

He was blessed with an innate mechanical ability; Jim quickly completed his apprenticeship and became a journeyman tool and die maker. While completing his apprenticeship, he again followed in his father’s footsteps and earned his private pilot's license in his early 20s, flying single-engine planes for most of his life. In 1969, he moved to Portage, MI, to start a new job as a journeyman tool and die maker with the General Motors stamping plant in Kalamazoo, MI. Outside of work, Jim loved to fish and work on anything with wheels or an engine.

He also had the ability to fix anything throughout his life, and he restored multiple classic cars and motorcycles and rebuilt many engines. Utilizing his mechanical skills and love of aviation, Jim would go on to construct his own aircraft from top to bottom, which he flew for many years.

Jim also enjoyed watching sports, particularly the Detroit Tigers and Lions. He would often jokingly brag that he got to watch the last Lions championship in 1957, an accomplishment that most fans have never seen.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Virginia (May) Swope and his brother, Fred Swope.

Jim is survived by his wife, Kristine (Miller) Swope; sister, Carla (Gerard) Wills of Lansing; sons, Klinton (Tracy) Swope of Plainwell, MI, and Matthew (Nichole) Swope of Weddington, NC; stepson, Nathan (Denise) Welch of Vicksburg, MI; grandchildren: Christian Swope, Jacob Swope, Heidi Swope, Sydney (Blake) Lapum, and Emma Welch; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Jim is also survived by his sister-in-law, Carol Swope, and special friends, Mike and Marlene Kirchner.

A Celebrate of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Chapman Memorial Church of the Nazarene, 7520 E U Ave, Vicksburg, MI, with Pastor Wesley Bittenbender officiating. Friends may gather from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be left to Centrica Care Navigators, 7100 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

To view Jim’s personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com.