The Olson Zoo Weblog

James P. McMullin Jr.
(August 14, 1922 - October 23, 2007)

James P. McMullin Jr., age 85 of L’Anse passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital Skilled Nurse Unit. He was born August 14, 1922 in Bessemer, Michigan son of the late Jim and Janyce (Slosson) McMullin Sr. Jim was raised in Pequaming and graduated from Pequaming High School in 1942; where he was a basketball player. He was in the US Navy from October 1942 to March 1946 during WWII. He married the former Delores Lindberg on January 2, 1946 in Minneapolis, MN. Jim worked for CCI from 1953 to 1987. They resided in L’Anse where his community contributions included his service on the Baraga county Federal Credit Union Board of Directors where he was past president for 9 years; L’Anse school board of education for 16 years where he was past president and treasurer; former L’Anse Area Schools Athletic Director and was assistant hockey coach for the LHS Hornet team. His love for hockey was revealed as he coached the local Bantam and Midget teams to state championships. In 1994 he was selected as the L’Anse Area Schools Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

He was a member of the L’Anse Baptist Church and the American Legion Post 144.

Surviving are his wife Delores of L’Anse; children, James McMullin of Garland, TX, DeeDee (Walter) Payne of Flint, MI, John (Ann) McMullin of L’Anse, Barbara (John) Turpeinen of Alston, Victoria (Chad) Wierenga of Linden, MI; grandchildren, Jolie (Dave Jullian) Miller, John (Angela) Turpeinen, John (Melanie) McMullin, Jamie (Kelly) McMullin, Nicole (Nathan) Chylek, William (Shanna) McMullin, Joey (Holly) McMullin, Maria (Norm) Haataja, Jessica (Neil) Sandlin, Heidi Turpeinen, Britta (Jason) Grissom, Nathan (Tina Sanregret) Turpeinen, David Payne, Abigail Turpeinen, Jacob, Michael, Matthew, and Cayla Wierenga; 37 great grandchildren; aunt Audrey Johanson of Duluth, MN; 4 sisters-in-laws, Dorothy McMullin, Marlys McMullin, Elva McMullin, Edythe Falck; several cousins and 45 nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death are his brothers, Thomas, John and Gerald McMullin; sisters Rhea St. Jacque, Elizabeth Klein; grandsons Scott and Chadwick Wierenga; and great granddaughter Jaycie Grissom.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 28 from 4-8:00 pm at Jacobson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at L’Anse Baptist Church with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Pastor Gerald Bishop will officiate. Burial will be in the Pequaming Cemetery. The Baraga County Area Veterans will be conducting military rites at the cemetery under the direction of the American Legion Post 444. The Jacobson Funeral Home of L’Anse is assisting the family.

Helen is growing also! She has come such a long way in the three months that we have had her. When she first came to us she could not sit unattended. Since then, she has mastered that, learned to scoot with her arms and one leg, stand while leaning, take steps while holding on to our hands, and now today she has learned to sit up. Thanks to her amazing flexibility she lays on her stomach, pulls her knees under her tummy, walks her hands to her knees and brings her feet around to the front by doing the splits! I was able to catch it on video right after she had done it for the first time.

Helen’s speech is progressing as well. She says “Hi!” and something like “Bye-Bye” appropriately. She also says “Mama”, “BaBa” (chinese for Daddy), and “PaPa” but I am not sure if she is really calling us. A couple of nights ago, she started saying “Tickle”. She just loves to be tickled. Any kind of contact physically and face time are her favorite things.