TRAVERSE CITY — James Peter Headlee, of Rochester Hills, a decorated veteran of the European Theater of Operations during World War II, died Sept. 14, 2011, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, after a three-month illness. He was 88.Mr. Headlee was born June 21, 1923, in Higland Park, the son of Peter S. and Helen Grace DePue Headlee and lived in the Rochester area much of his life. His wife, the former Johann "Jody" Banwell, whom he married May 22, 1946, in Detroit, died Oct. 29, 2010.Mr. Headlee attended Denby High School in Detroit, where he starred on the varsity track team. He retired in 1982 from the Michigan Bell Telephone Co., where he was a Private Branch Exchange technician. He worked for the company for 41 years.A kind and gentle man, Mr. Headlee was known affectionately to family and friends as "Ace" because of his love of card games with his daughters and grandchildren. Enjoying boating, swimming and vacationing at the family's summer home on Crooked Lake near Conway in Emmet County, he continued his passion for the water into his 80s, often piloting his "Ace" ski boat and riding a personal watercraft while on family outings at Crooked Lake.In December 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until December of 1945. A Technician Fifth Grade, he was assigned to the 311th Signal Service Battalion. He served in England until the Normandy invasion and later participated in campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.Among his decorations were the American Theater Ribbon, the European, African and Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.He leaves two daughters, Karin Jo (Joseph) D'Antona, of Fort Mill, S.C., and Carol Ann (Bill) Thomas, of Traverse City; three grandchildren, Kelly (Stephen) Krason, of Troy, Jamie D'Antona, of Tega Cay, S.C., and Kathryn (Geoffrey) D'Antona Duncombe, of New York City; a great-granddaughter, Kayla Grace Krason, of Troy; a step granddaughter, Elizabeth (Anthony) Weaver, of Macomb; three step great-grandchildren, Lucian, Zoe and Aiden Weaver, all of Macomb. A sister, Marion Gray, of Florida, and a step grandson, Aaron Thomas, of Macomb, died previously.There are no service or visitation hours planned. Inurnment will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Munson Medical Center Heart Center, Attn: Unit A-2, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.Please share your thoughts and memories with Jim's family by way of his online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com . The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service.