A. James (Jim) Crandall passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Dec. 29, 2021. Jim was born in Canton, Illinois in 1934, to George and Rose Crandall.
On Sept. 20, 1958, Jim married the love of his life, Gayle Sousley, daughter of Eugene and Mable Sousley.
Jim was a great visionary as he was instrumental in the Van Buren Tech Center being located in Lawrence. He was general manager of the Bloomingdale Telephone Company, taking it from a rural entity to a multi-million-dollar business. He also founded Quality Assured Plastics, Inc., and was the developer of the Lawrence-Crandall Business Centre.
Jim was a great supporter of the Lawrence community. He was a typesetter for the “Lawrence Times,” and the Lawrence Telephone Company lineman/manager. He also served on the Lawrence Fire Department, Lawrence Township Planning Commission, and Van Buren Intermediate School District Board (20+ years). He was a faithful member, with his wife, of the Lawrence United Methodist Church.
Jim cherished his family who include four children, Annette Crandall of Lawrence, Gene (Kim) Crandall of Mattawan; Barbara (Steve) Daniel of Paw Paw, and Wendy (Steve) Sundberg of Paw Paw; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, (and one more on the way); sister, Marilynn Jones of Lincolnton, NC; and many nieces and nephews.
The grandchildren are as follows: Nathan Crandall, Joshua Sundberg, Samantha Daniel, Austin Crandall, Stacy (Tony) Gentile, Stefanie Sundberg, Kevin (Kelly) Sundberg, and Elaina Daniel. The great-grandchildren are Wesley Daniel and Hayden Sundberg.
Sisters that greeted him in heaven: Carolyn Dillenbeck of Lawrence; and Evelyn Blazer of Maiden, NC.
In celebration of his life, the family will welcome friends to the Adams Funeral Home, 502 West Michigan Ave., Paw Paw, on Wednesday, Jan. 5, for visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Pastor Wayne McKenney will be officiating the funeral service today (Thursday, Jan. 6), at 2 p.m. at the Lawrence United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Hill Cemetery, Lawrence.
The family asked that memorial contributions be directed to the Lawrence United Methodist Church or Hospice of Southwest Michigan.
Share a memory or sign the online tribute wall at: www.adamspawpaw.com.
Friday, November 22, 2024
