Jim Lamborn

Although he accomplished so much of which to be proud, Jim Lamborn was a humble man whose greatest source of pride and joy was found in his loved ones. He was known for his strong work ethic, and his devotion to his work, his community, and his family and friends was truly unmatched. Jim was sincere and generous beyond measure, and his fantastic sense of humor made him so much fun to be around. With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around him, he created a timeless legacy that his loved ones will proudly carry on in his footsteps.

The 1920s were prosperous days in America when innovation greatly enhanced the way we lived our daily lives. This all came to a screeching halt when the crash of the stock market in 1929 sent our nation spiraling down into the depths of the Great Depression throughout the entire decade of the 1930s and beyond. Although times were difficult, it was a time of great celebration in the lives of Oliver Darl and Dorothy Agnes (Pear) Lamborn as they welcomed the healthy baby boy they named Jim into their hearts and home on June 30, 1931, in Sturgis, Michigan. He was raised in a loving and nurturing home, and his family was very close as well. The Lamborn family was given a tough pill to swallow when Jim’s father died when Jim was only a young boy of 16. This sent his mother into the workforce in order to support the family.

In many ways, Jim was a young boy of his generation. He was very close with his extended family, too, including his aunts, uncles, and cousins, and he looked forward to spending time at the farm of his relatives in Indiana during the summer. Jim attended local schools where he played saxophone in the band and also participated in sports. In addition, he attended First Methodist Church in Sturgis. Jim went on to graduate from Sturgis High School in 1949.

As a young man Jim was eager for all that life had in store. He spent four years serving in the United States Navy during the years of the Korean Conflict. While in the military Jim served on two different ships. As a civilian he attended Western Michigan University on the GI Bill. This worked well since it was close to home. He studied business and later graduated from the University of Michigan School of Banking.

New and exciting changes were in store for Jim when he met the woman with whom he would share the best years of his life. Her name was Marilyn Noble, and they met at a house party in Kalamazoo when he was a junior. They began dating and soon found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Jim and Marilyn were united in marriage on June 27, 1959. Together they were blessed with the births of three children, Brett, Brooks, and Bruce. Jim was actively involved in the lives of his boys, and he was there for all of their events and activities. Jim was a terrific father, and as his boys got older he was the most amazing role model as well. Their dog, Rufus, was a very important part of the family and has been referred to as Jim’s fourth son.

To support his family, Jim built a successful career in the banking industry. He was vice president of American National and Old Kent Bank, and he truly loved helping customers. In addition, Jim was part of the Plainwell Chamber and the Suburban Exchange Club. He retired in 1995.

In addition to enjoying his work, Jim enriched his life in other ways as well. He was a passionate fan of Western Michigan University and served there in a variety of ways including on various boards and through his involvement with the Mike Gary Athletic Fund and fundraising for their boosters for 48 years. In 2015, Jim was honored to receive the WMU Athletics Distinguished Leadership Award. Throughout his life there was nothing that brought him joy quite like a WMU victory! Jim spent a lot of time traveling, and he was also into family genealogy. In addition, he played golf, enjoyed woodworking, and did some watercolor painting and gardening.

With a contagious zest for life, Jim Lamborn was an extraordinary blessing in the lives of everyone he met. He was known for saying things like, “More than one way to skin a cat,” and, “Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick,” in addition to numerous pieces of timeless advice. Passionate about his work, WMU, and his community, Jim felt that nothing was better than the joy he felt when surrounded by his family. Kindhearted and genuine, he was always whistling and was known for his fun-loving sense of humor as well. Deeply loved, Jim will be forever missed.

Jim Lamborn, of Kalamazoo, passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Jim’s family includes his wife of 57 years, Marilyn; children: Brett (Nancy) Lamborn, Brooks (Kimberly Koenig) Lamborn, Bruce Lamborn; two brothers: Dick (Kathy) Lamborne and Doug (Jan) Lamborne and a brother-in-law: Jack (Gloria) Noble; two grandsons: Alexander (Mary Beth) and Channing Lamborn; two great-grandsons: Zaiden and Nolan Lamborn as well as several nieces and nephews and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his parents. Visit with his family and friends and view his life story film on Friday, May 13 from 4:00-7:00 at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 Woodhams St. (685-5881). A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Please visit Jim’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo and sign his memory book online. Memorial donations can be made to the WMU Mike Gary Athletic Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.