James Lambert

James Lambert, 87, of Mancelona, died peacefully, Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. Jim was born March 23, 1922, at the home of his parents, Thomas and Rose (Courtade) Lambert. He gained a very good education in a one-room school house, giving him skills and interests that he has added to throughout his life. He served his country in WWII as a sergeant in the Army Air force unit 2538ph in Randolph, TX from January 23rd of 1942 until December 15th, 1945 as an auto equipment operator. For His service received the following medals: Good Conduct, American Campaign, WWII Victory and Honorable Service lapel button for WWII. During this time he married Agnes Marie Kelly on June 21, 1948. They settled on a farm near Rapid City, where he resided for 42 years. Jim exemplified hard work, perseverance in hard times, always seeking to provide well for his family, and was always willing to go out of his way to help a neighbor. He worked on construction crews for many years as a heavy equipment operator. Jim served on the Rapid City School Board for several years, and served as a scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America. He was an amateur architect and inventor. He could keep machinery and vehicles going when there were very few resources available. He could design parts or sketch out the floor plan for a building addition. The blackboard in the family home often held a working model in progress. In later years he enjoyed traveling with his children, cutting wood and driving his 1955 Chevy A� ton truck and his 1954 John Deere tractor that he and his children had restored. He liked seeing and spending time with his grandchildren. His hobbies were reading, watching re-runs of Mash, Little House on the Prairie, and baseball. He resided at Meadow Brook Long Term Care in Bellaire, Michigan at the time of death. He was a member of the Antrim Church of Christ. Jim is survived by his sons, Tom (Brenda) of Mancelona, Mi, and Gary (Marcia) of Broken Arrow, OK, his daughter, Katie Lambert (Craig) Krueger of Napoleon, MO; his grandchildren, Tom (Jodi) Lambert, Lisa (Rory) Windish, Gary (Fayrene) Lambert, Jon Lambert, Suzanne (Jonathan) Lashley, Amy Krueger, and Jennifer (Nate) Wynn; 10 great grand-children, Isaac, Sarah, Rachel, Ricki, Daniel, Katrina, Mathew, Timothy, Rose, and Andrew; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes (Kelly) Lambert; his parents, Thomas J. and Rose (Courtade) Lambert; his sisters Mary Yorks and Louise Lambert and his brothers, Bob, Don, and Dick. The family will receive friends Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Friday, October 23rd, at the Antrim Church of Christ located on US 131 S in Mancelona. Pastor Mark McCool will officiate. A luncheon will follow. Interment will be in Coldsprings Twp. Cemetery. Please sign our online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com