James Elwood Herlocher

Jim Herlocher, M.D., 79, of Petoskey, died May 27, 2015 in his wife Sherry's loving arms.

Jim was born August 4, 1935 in Woolrich, Pennsylvania, the son of Martin and Ruth (Geiger) Herlocher. He grew up in Woolrich and graduated high school from Lock Haven. After high school, Jim enrolled in Penn State where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Med. He attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, until 1961, when he received his Doctorate in the Art of Medicine. After that Jim served his internship at the University of Michigan Hospital in 1962. During this time Jim joined the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Jim served in the United States Air Force at the school of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base in Texas. While he was in the military, Jim served as a Flight Surgeon and assisted NASA in both the Gemini and Apollo projects. In 1964, Jim was awarded the Commendation Medal and received Honorable Discharge while holding the position of Captain.

Once Jim left the Air Force he returned to the University of Michigan for his Residency  in Thorasic surgery. In 1969, Jim obtained his Surgical License from U of M. In 1970, Jim became a member of the Washtenaw County Medical Society, and became licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Michigan. One year later, Jim was awarded credentials from the American College of Cardiology and the following year from American College of Surgeons and American College of Chest Physicians.

During this time, Jim was married to Louise Fritzsche. The couple were college sweethearts and had two children together; John and Steven. They lived in Ann Arbor while Jim opened his own private practice. Jim and Louise were an instrumental part of opening the Ann Arbor Tennis Club.

Jim moved the family to Northern Michigan and started working at the hospital in Petoskey. He opened the heart center and routinely performed open heart surgeries.

Jim brought along one of his most trusted co-workers; his surgical assistant John Kenyon.

Jim and his wife, Louise, were two of the founding members of the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey. Louise, preceded Jim in death.

On March 23, 1994, he married Charolette “Sherry” (Shaw) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Sherry is a retired ER Nurse who practiced in Indiana. They have been married for 21 years.

Jim loved to fish with his good friends, Dick Ranke and Dick Seguin, Art Francis, Chuck Butwell, Nate Jabarre, Bill Blanchard, his sons and many others.  Jim’s friends travelled to Petoskey from around the world to fish with him.. He also enjoyed hunting deer and elk. Jim went hunting with the same friend of his, Ken Putney, for over 30 years. He was a talented doubles partner in tennis and a skilled skier. Jim was instrumental in building Petoskey’s first indoor tennis house. He also enjoyed sharing his vast knowledge with young students. About once a year, Jim would bring pig hearts and lungs to Petoskey and Charlevoix High Schools to show the students their how lungs worked. He also served with Kathy Breighner on the “Spark” educational program helping challenged students. He was a man that could “do anything”.

Jim is survived by his wife, Charlotte “Sherry” Herlocher; his sons, John (Nancy) Herlocher and Steven (Heather) Herlocher; his daughter, Alyssa Herlocher; step-children, Kathleen (Robert) McGinnes, Rebecca (Craig) Stephens, Jon Krebs, Charles (Janelle) Krebs; and grandchildren, Steven Herlocher, Johnathan Friedland, Joshua Friedland, Bona Herlocher, Larin Herlocher, Brittany McGiness, Bobby McGiness, Michael McGiness, Jon Krebs III, Charlie Krebs, Kora Krebs, Catie Krebs and Conor Krebs, Larin Stephens, and Adam Stephens.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Thursday, June 4th at 11:00am with Chaplin Dianne Myers officiating at Stone Funeral Home in Petoskey, Michigan.

Those wishing to honor Jim's memory, are asked to make a donation to Hospice of the Straits in Cheboygan or the ALS Foundation.

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