James Wieferich

James J. Wieferich, 83 yrs. old, of Mackinaw City, Michigan passed away March 30, 2025 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. Funeral visitation and Mass will be at St. Anthony's Parish in Mackinaw City later this spring. Father David Diebel, our parish Catholic priest, will say the Mass and Sister Chris Herald, the pastoral administrator, will be assisting. The burial will be in Lakeview Cemetary in the City of Mackinaw. James was born February 17, 1942 in Mt. Pleasant, MI. He was the son of Ferdinand and Otha (Tanner) Wieferich. He grew up in Clare, MI. and attended St. Cecilia Grade School and Clare High School. He excelled at and earned many music awards. He was also active in many sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. On May 8, 1965 he married Mary Ellen (Walters) Wieferich. They were married at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Detroit, MI. As a young man, he enjoyed watching western movies, and his favorite sports to participate in were water and snow skiing. He belonged to the Boy Scouts as a youngster, and his dad was a leader of the Scouts. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Army-National Guard. He was a Specialist Five E-5. James J. Wieferich Co. B 1st Battalion (Mech) 225th Infantry. He was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard of MI, and as a Reserve of the Army, on the 25th day of Feb. 1970. He was also sworn in during the riots in Detroit. James and his wife were members of St. Anthony's Church in Mackinaw City for many years. He was a 3rd Degree member of the K of C Council #791 in Cheboygan, MI. Also, for many years he belonged to the Michigan Teamsters joint council #43. He retired from General Motors with many years of loyal service and was a UAW member of Local Union 488.

The family suggests memorials to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Mackinaw City.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen Wieferich; sister, Susan McKinney and her husband Russ McKinney; children, Catherine (Wieferich) Thompson (Ernie D Angelo), James (Lynne) Wieferich, Shawn (Heather) Wieferich, Erin (Michael) Nier; grandchildren, Kenneth (Veronica) Wieferich, Kayla Wieferich, Brianna Wieferich, Caitlin Thompson, Logan Wieferich, Jordan Wieferich, and Kylie Fouch; great-grandchildren, Jack Cowsert, Landon Neff, Gunnar Wieferich, and Briggs Wieferich. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ferdinand and Otha Wieferich, sister Carol Cotton and her husband Merlewayne Cotton.

We would be remiss in not mentioning all of Jim's loving Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, and cousins. Those who are still here, and those who have already passed.

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