James Joseph Semke

Surrounded by the love of family, friends and caregivers, James Joseph Semke, 75 , passed peacefully into the embrace of his heavenly Father, May 17, 2016. Born May 7, 1941, the farm boy from LaCrosse, Wisconsin would always hold a special fondness for the dairy country, but he had a wonderlust for seeing the world. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served for the next six years. Following this, he traveled the country as a contract Tool and Die Designer, working for firms like Boeing and John Deere. His was a simple life dedicated to serving the Lord. By offering comfort to the invisible people who live on the streets, he touched many. Kindness, patience and grace were his greatest strengths. His favorite past time was rousing his grandson's at 5 a.m. to hunt worms and teach them to fish. As he aged, he gave voice to his thoughts through writing and brought forward beauty among his gardens. We will all miss his cheerful, consistent answer of "wonderful", when asked how he was doing.
He is survived by daughter, Deborah Ann (Alan) Nesbit, son Michael Joseph Semke and his fiancé Erin Allgeier, his children's mother Maureen Buckman(Ryan) and her husband John, Grandson's Christopher, Kevin and Stephen Nesbit, siblings, Louis, Mary Jane, Eugene, Phillip, Ronald, Orville, Annette and Kenneth.
He was preceded in death by parents Lucille (Hall) and Vernon Semke and foster parents Joe and Coletta Stevens and infant son James Joseph.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, May 23, 2016 at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home at 11:00 am. Interment at the Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens will immediately follow where he will receive full military honors.
The family requests that you plant a tulip in his memory, so that each spring you might remember him.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider Catholic Human Services. www.catholichumanservices.org
Special thanks to the staff at Maple Valley Nursing Home, where for the past 7 years, Jim found gentle hands and hearts to care for his many challenges.
Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family.
The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.