James Felix Walch

Jim was born on May 21, 1959, to John and Marion (Felix) Walch. He was a lifelong resident of Escanaba and well known throughout the community for his quick wit, strong opinions and unforgettable one-liners.

To the people who loved him, Jim was known by many names, and each one carries its own story. He was Jim to some, Jimmy to others and to many he was Big Jimmy. Friends called him Jimmers, while family affectionately knew him as Shamus or Shamu, nicknames that stuck over the years and matched his playful, mischievous spirit. Some knew him as Turtle or even Fester; names that only made sense if you were part of the stories and the laughter that came with them. To his nieces and nephews, he was always Uncle Jimmy; the one with the jokes, the stories and the memorable (to say the least) advice. No matter which name he went by, each one meant the same thing: a man who was deeply loved, impossible to ignore and truly one of a kind.

Jim spent many years in the automotive industry, working in car sales at Coyne Chevrolet and Northern Motors before owning and operating J&K Auto. He eventually returned to the new sales world at Riverside Ford, where he finished his car sales career. He built lasting friendships with coworkers and customers alike and everyone knew they could count on him for an honest deal, a fun story and/or a good laugh.

Outside of work, Jim felt most at home near the water or in the outdoors. He was a member of the Escanaba Yacht Club and loved sailing and ice boating. He especially enjoyed Wednesday night races, competing in the Chicago-to-Mackinac Race and racing in the many regattas throughout the region. His love for sailing started young. At 15, he became the youngest skipper to ever race the 100 Miler. Over the years he owned several boats, but he always kept the same name, “Phantom,” a name which still invokes both infamy and delight amongst Lake Michigan sailors. Some of his favorite memories were the lively races and party days on Washington Island, where his Canadian Hunter and sense of humor were always part of the fun. As his girls grew older and schedules filled up, Jim traded some of his racing time for what he jokingly called becoming a “stinkpotter,” enjoying time on powerboats when life left less room for full-time sailing. Even when he wasn’t on a full-size boat, Jim still found joy in the sport, spending time sailing his RC sailboat, watching sailing clips and checking the ice conditions for his fellow ice boaters.

Jim cherished time spent at Camp Swampy (both the original and current) where days were filled with hunting, laughter, storytelling and the kind of simple moments that meant the most to him. He loved cooking and feeding

people; no-one ever left his table hungry. Whether stoking the fire, visiting neighbors or sharing a cocktail and an old story, Camp Swampy was one of the places Jim felt most in his element.

No one loved a good road trip better than Jimmy. In recent days, road trips became codger rides but still held the same value and the same simple joy of getting out, sharing stories and enjoying the company along the way.

Jim never met a stranger and had a way of making friends wherever he went. He built deep, lasting friendships throughout his life, and many of those friends became more like family. There was almost always someone stopping by to visit, share a story, or raise a glass with him and the phone often rang with calls from friends near and far. Those connections meant everything to him and were a true reflection of the kind of man he was.

More than anything, Jim loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He had a way of making even ordinary moments memorable, whether it was telling a ridiculous or inappropriate joke at just the right time or insisting that dinner came with a challenge, like catching your own steak before you could eat it. His humor, stories and grand personality will be remembered by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Kelly (Craig) Carter and Leslie Walch; his grandchildren, Abigail Sjoholm, Reagan, Sailor and Elliot Carter; his siblings, John (Mary) Walch and Anne (Richard) Pfotenhauer; uncle Richard Growdon; aunt Kathryn Nordberg; his nieces and nephews, Laura and Charlie Pfotenhauer, Craig Gerber and Kate Walch; and Nicholas and Alex Sundstrom, who were family to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marion Walch; his aunt Barbara Walch Growdon, his Uncle David Walch and his Aunt Mary “Mimi” Berry.

Our family would like to offer a sincere thank you to the nurses and staff at OSF Healthcare and the hospice team for their compassionate care and support. We are also grateful for the many neighbors and friends who checked in, offered help and kept Jim in their thoughts. And an extra thank you to Gary Sovey, who probably received more calls from Jimmy than dispatch ever sent his way.

Jim’s memory will live on in the stories told, the races sailed, the woods he walked, the time spent at Camp Swampy, the friendships he cherished and the laughter he left behind.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. A celebration of life service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. A reception will follow. The Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the Walch family with the arrangements and online condolences can be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.