James Arnold "Jim" Fish, Sr.

James Arnold "Jim" Fish, Sr. of Hickory Corners, MI

Jim, age 89, died Thursday morning, August 25, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, MI and in the presence of his family.

Jim was born the son of Robert and Margaret (Lowe) Fish, in Scranton, PA on Feb. 21, 1927. He attended Scranton Country Day School and the Choate School in CT. In 1950, Jim graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Animal Science and Forestry. He relocated to Michigan where he was employed by R.F. Locke as Manager of Lockshore Farms. Jim served in WWII as a Merchant Marine in the US Coast Guard and US Navy, and again in the Korean War, with the Army. In 1957, Jim was united in marriage to Alice Belin and in 1963, bought Lockshore Farms. Jim had one of the top Guernsey herds in the country. He won multiple awards while exhibiting cattle at the local, state, national and international level and was a well respected judge, nationally and internationally. Jim served on the Board of Directors for the American Guernsey Cattle Club, the Michigan Guernsey Breeders Assoc., Michigan Dairy Breeders Assoc., the Michigan Pure Bred Cattle Assoc., Farm Credit Services, Barry County Farm Bureau, Michigan Farm Bureau, Dairy Herd Improvement, Independent Milk Producers Assoc., Dairy Farmers of America, MSU Dairy Advisory Council, the Governor's Milk Marketing Committee and the Governor's Advisory Council for Michigan Dairy Industry. He was instrumental in supporting dairy farmers and the pricing of milk and milk products. In 1987, Jim was named Michigan Dairy Farmer of the Year and in 1991 was inducted into the Michigan Farmer's Hall of Fame. Jim never missed a chance to be outdoors and the woods were his second home. He loved to hunt, fish and was an avid conservationist. Jim was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Ruffed Grouse Society, Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Michigan Wild Turkey Association, The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Forest Association and Michigan United Conservation Club. Jim served on the Board of Directors for the Four Township Water Resource Council, the Potawatomi RC&D Council, Michigan Professional Loggers Council and the Barry County Water and Soil Conservation District. Jim received the Dow Conservation Award, the Goodyear Conservation Award and District Conservationist of the year for Barry County. In 2000, he was named Michigan Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year and in 2001, U.S. North Central Region Tree Farmer of the Year. He loved working on the farm and in the woods.

Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, Robert and Margaret Fish and two half brothers, Arthur and William Connell and daughter-in-law, Lory Fish. Jim is survived by his wife, Alice, brother, Robert Fish (Vermont), three children, Tamalyn (Dave) Flook, James Fish, Jr. and Susan (Brian) Buckham, four grandchildren, Mackenzie Flook, Darren Fish, Cody and Kylie Buckham and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to a "Celebration of Jim's Life" at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 W. Cloverdale Road, Hastings, MI 49058 on Saturday, October 15, 2016 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Donations in Jim's honor can be made to Barry County Conservation or Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation in support of an Agriculture/Conservation Scholarship.