James M. "Jim" Cleveland

James M. "Jim" Cleveland, age 68, of Battle Creek died peacefully at the Glenn Arbor Hospice in Battle Creek on Wednesday morning, August 30, 2017. He was born in Battle Creek on October 7, 1948, the loving son of Richard H. and Donna E. (Sherman) Cleveland. Jim was a 1966 graduate of Harper Creek High School and furthered his education at Western Michigan University, graduating with a BA in 1970. While at Western, Jim pledged and became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In the early years, Jim worked at the Bill Knapp's Commissary and then retired from the Kellogg Company in 1999 after more than 29 years of service.

Jim married the "Love of His Life" and "The Girl Next Door," Susan K. "Sue" Tanner at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Battle Creek on September 19, 1970 and she survives. He is also survived by his children, Chris (Catherine) Cleveland of East Lansing and Michelle (Jorge) Gonzalez of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; three granddaughters, Madeline, Justine and Danielle Cleveland; his brother, David E. (Kathey) Cleveland of Oscoda, MI; his father-in-law & mother-in-law, Fred & Freida Tanner; his brother-in-law, Harley (Sally) Tanner; his niece, Stephanie Banwart and her children, Shae and Kode and his good friends, Allan & Dolly Shepard and Mark & Angela Hanlin. Jim was preceded in death by his parents.

Jim was a member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Kellogg 25-Year Club. He was also a former member of the Pennfield Lions Club and a past-president of the Calhoun County Corvettes. Over the years, Jim enjoyed playing golf, basketball & slow-pitch softball and coached with the Y-Center Basketball Association. He loved playing any and all card games and was especially proud of his 2010 Blade Silver Metallic Corvette.

The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 1, 2017 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care where funeral services to celebrate Jim's life will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 2, 2017 with Rev. Larry Gorlitz, Pastor of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiating. Entombment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Building Fund, 349 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017 or to Lending Hands of Michigan, 2403 Helen Ave., Portage, MI 49002.

Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Jim may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.