Jim A. Garrison

James Alan Garrison of Portage, MI passed away at home Saturday October 19th, 2024, at the age of 62. Jim was born August 30th, 1962, in Peru, Indiana. He graduated from North Miami High School in 1980 and attended Vincennes University where he would graduate with an Associates Degree. Thereafter Jim began honing his lifelong craft of selling, while working for AM Multigraphics installing and selling capital printing equipment and eventually moving to Schoolcraft, MI to work for Sun Chemical. His love for the printing industry would remain constant throughout his career. In 2005 he proudly founded American Inks and Technology, where he served as President and CEO until his retirement in 2021. Jim had a deep love for his family, friends, traveling, and of course his work. As we’re writing this, we’re overtaken by the thought of what Jim would say if he were here. Without a doubt his words would be “don’t spend a bunch of time on that, nobody reads those things”. That defines who he was, he didn’t want to be the center of attention, he wouldn’t want to have us talk about how he was a star athlete and basketball player in high school, how he risked his life savings in 2005 and rented a building he couldn’t afford to start American Inks, how he went without a paycheck during those early days to ensure he could make payroll, or how he lived FAR within his means (Apartment B2 in Schoolcraft) to ensure the success of his life’s work and the employees who depended on that success. He was a private and modest man that would want to be remembered for taking care of his family, making a difference in the lives of people in our community, for getting up early, working hard, never being late, and not complaining, even when things were tough. He would tell us not to mourn, but to drink some beers for him, keep moving and get to work. He would say “that’s the problem with this world, people have too much time on their hands, people need to work, doesn’t anybody have a job anymore?!”

Surviving Jim are his children, Brady (Kati) Garrison, Brandi Garrison, Benjamin Garrison; grandchildren, Matthew Hyden, Reba J. Garrison, Evelyn Garrison; siblings, Gary (Karen) Garrison, Todd Garrison, Charles (Christal) Garrison; nephew, Cody (Amanda) Garrison, niece, Jade Jewell; cousins, Darrell, Don and Linnea Clemons, Brad and Travis Cotner. Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles Gary and Reba (Clemons) Garrison

To honor Jim’s life, a funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, 11am, at Langeland Family Funeral Home, 411 East Center Avenue, Portage, Michigan 49002. Friends are welcome to visit with the family from 9:30am to 11am, prior to the service. Immediately following the funeral service, a graveside service will take place at Mt. Ever Rest Memorial Park. There will also be an informal luncheon from 1-3pm at Jac’s Cekola’s banquet room, located at 7460 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage, MI 49002. To view Jim's personalized guestbook, please visit https://www.langelands.com