James
James A. Deneau
Jim passed away Monday, March 1, 2021 at his home in Alamo Township.
He was born March 31, 1928 in Kalamazoo, the son of James and Carolyn (Snell) Deneau. Jim proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a fireman 1
st
class during World War II. He worked as a journeyman press operator at Kalamazoo Label Company and had owned and operated Kalamazoo Septic until his retirement in 2009.
In his free time Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, taking road trips and hanging with his grandchildren. Jim was a member of the Otsego VFW Post #3030, Otsego Elks Lodge and the Plains County Club in Plains, Georgia. On July 5, 1949 in Angola, Indiana he married Burtie Rice who passed away in 2011.
Surviving are his sons, Tom (Jackie) Deneau and Jim (Ellyn) Deneau; grandchildren, Alex (Suzannah) Deneau, Abby (Ben Rhodes) Deneau, Mary (Scott) Nykamp, Thomas Deneau, Kayla Deneau, Jimmy Deneau, Sam Deneau and David (Veronica) Deneau; several great-grandchildren; brother, Brad (Paula) Deneau along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, David; his in-laws and several cousins.
Friends may visit with Jim’s family from 6-8 PM, Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at the Winkel Funeral Home.
Cremation will follow.
A private family memorial service will take place at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 6, 2021 at the Otsego United Methodist Church with Pastor Joe Shaler officiating.
Burial of ashes will follow at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego. Military honors by VFW Post #3030.
In accordance with covid -19 guidelines a limit of 25 people at a time will be allowed and masks and social distancing will be required.
For those unable to attend the memorial service a live stream will be available on the Otsego Methodist Church’s website or Facebook Live.
Contributions in memory of Jim may be made to Kalamazoo County Council on Aging, Otsego United Methodist Church or to
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of James A. Deneau
Condolence Messages
Kathy Peterson
March 1, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Jim and Ellen sorry to hear about Jims father sending our prayers and love
Reply
Tim and Marcia Quigley
March 2, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Dear Family of Jim,
We are saddened of the passing of Jim. He was such a nice man, he always had a smile on his face.! Please know he is with Burtie, and is a beautiful Angel watching over you! We send our love and prayers!
Reply
Craig & Monica VandeWerken
March 2, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Jim was a wonderful man and always had a smile and kind words for everyone. We’ miss him but glad he’s with Burtie again.
Reply
Penny Baker
March 2, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Remembering Jim fondly. Our sincerest condolences to you all.
Reply
Nyla Merrill
March 2, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Jim and Ellyn: I am so sorry to hear of the passing of you dad. He was such a nice man. Always had a smile!
Our condolences go out to your families.
Nyla and Paul
Reply
SUE BRICKER
March 2, 2021 at 4:10 pm
So sorry for Jim’s passing. Will be well remembered.
Reply
Maria Dinah Howrigon
March 2, 2021 at 5:01 pm
So sorry to hear of jims passing.
Reply
Rick and Karen Clemens
March 2, 2021 at 5:10 pm
Jim and Ellyn and family: So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. We have great memories of your parents at church and of Jim putting in our septic system. He always had a kind word and a smile. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Ron Klug
March 2, 2021 at 5:14 pm
Jim was always smiling. We had a good time together on the 2013 Alaska trip and he seemed to take pleasure in any activity—purportedly even enjoying MSU tailgates, as difficult as that is for me to comprehend. My condolences to the entire family.
Reply
Michael Vanarsdal
March 2, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Deneau family so sorry for your loss. Uncle Jim, as I knew him, was a wonderful person. He always had a joke and an infectious laugh that always brought a smile to all. He will be missed.
Reply
Kathleen Fisher
March 2, 2021 at 7:35 pm
Jim and Ellyn,
So sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers for peace and comfort for you and your family.
Reply
James Msner
March 2, 2021 at 7:44 pm
Ellyn, I am so very sorry to hear of the great loss to you and your family. Let us rely on the compassion of God to bring us through this.
Jim
Reply
Bernice Sinner
March 2, 2021 at 8:10 pm
What a wonderful, warm hearted person Jim was! I will always remember at Tom and Jackies wedding when the band started playing, he grabbed me onto the dance floor and boogied down! Loved by everyone, will be missed by all. Rest easy.
Reply
Josie Pape
March 2, 2021 at 11:37 pm
Jim, Ellyn and family,
I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. He was always such a sweet man, with such a great smile.
He is now in heaven enjoying his love.
Reply
Sue Lindsey
March 3, 2021 at 9:11 am
So sorry to hear of your Dads passing…my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time….keep the memories close…Hugs and Love to you all…
Reply
Char Forbes
March 3, 2021 at 1:54 pm
So sorry to hear about the passing of “Uncle Jim”. Always loved his sweet smile and generous hugs! It is certain he is now smiling while dancing with “Aunt Burtie”! May you be comforted by warm memories. Love and hugs to you all.
Reply
Anthony Seekman
March 3, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Very sadden to hear about the loss of Jim. Always such a great man to be around. Treated me like one of his own. Will be thinking of the family in this hard time.
Reply
Ken Ark
March 3, 2021 at 3:08 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about Grandpa Deneau. My heart hurts for my friends. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. May God grant you comfort and peace.
Reply
Linda
March 3, 2021 at 4:48 pm
I will miss him so much on Tuesday nights and his kisses that he gave and that smile he was happy all the time
thanks to his family for taking care of him and not letting him go to a home
Reply
David J. Delemme
March 3, 2021 at 5:09 pm
To the entire James A Deneau family: We at American Legion Post 84 of Otsego, Michigan, send our thoughts and prayers to your family. James was a 22 year member at Post 84, and served in many positions as a Post 84 officer. He was well respected, and liked by all of us at Post 84. James also helped with many legion programs that helped local veterans, children and youth, and our local community. He will be remembered at Post 84 for his service to our country during WWII also. Again, We send our prayers to your family. May God hold him near. “Till we meet again my friend”.
Dave Delemme / Allegan County Commander for the Department of the Michigan American Legion.
Reply
Ray Fuller
March 4, 2021 at 3:27 pm
My deepest condolences to Jim and Tom and all their families on the loss of Jim.
Knowing how nice he was, always a smile and fun things he says about everything,
I enjoyed being around him even though it wasn’t a lot, but still enjoyable.
Jim will be a huge loss to all who knew him.
Rest in peace Jim, I’ll catch up with you later.
Ray Fuller
Reply
Michael Goff
March 6, 2021 at 9:22 am
So sorry to learn about James passing. What a great person I was blessed to know. His son Dave was one of my best friends growing up.
Reply
Jessica Langley
March 6, 2021 at 12:24 pm
Uncle Jim and Aunt Ellyn and kids. I am sorry for you’re loss. I knew James for a long time and my sister and I would go to Aunt Ellyn and Uncle Jim’s house for family gatherings and James Deneau would be their. I only know James as Grandpa James Deneau. I will miss him very much and I will miss his smile and his hugs. Two years ago some of the Meeter Family and Deneau Family and Linton Family got together and Grandpa James was there. He will be missed by a lot of people.
Reply
Jerry and Franny Laster
March 11, 2021 at 8:58 am
Jim and Ellyn, we are so sorry to hear about your dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We have fond memories of Jim and you guys. Such good times. He was kind, caring , had a great personality, always a smile and a hug. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Reply
Craig and Ann Russell
March 14, 2021 at 2:37 pm
We just heard the news of Big Jim’s passing. We have so many wonderful memories of him and Bertie plus the rest of the Deneau family. We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Reply
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He was born March 31, 1928 in Kalamazoo, the son of James and Carolyn (Snell) Deneau. Jim proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as a fireman 1
st
class during World War II. He worked as a journeyman press operator at Kalamazoo Label Company and had owned and operated Kalamazoo Septic until his retirement in 2009.
In his free time Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, taking road trips and hanging with his grandchildren. Jim was a member of the Otsego VFW Post #3030, Otsego Elks Lodge and the Plains County Club in Plains, Georgia. On July 5, 1949 in Angola, Indiana he married Burtie Rice who passed away in 2011.
Surviving are his sons, Tom (Jackie) Deneau and Jim (Ellyn) Deneau; grandchildren, Alex (Suzannah) Deneau, Abby (Ben Rhodes) Deneau, Mary (Scott) Nykamp, Thomas Deneau, Kayla Deneau, Jimmy Deneau, Sam Deneau and David (Veronica) Deneau; several great-grandchildren; brother, Brad (Paula) Deneau along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, David; his in-laws and several cousins.
Friends may visit with Jim’s family from 6-8 PM, Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at the Winkel Funeral Home.
Cremation will follow.
A private family memorial service will take place at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 6, 2021 at the Otsego United Methodist Church with Pastor Joe Shaler officiating.
Burial of ashes will follow at Mountain Home Cemetery in Otsego. Military honors by VFW Post #3030.
In accordance with covid -19 guidelines a limit of 25 people at a time will be allowed and masks and social distancing will be required.
For those unable to attend the memorial service a live stream will be available on the Otsego Methodist Church’s website or Facebook Live.
Contributions in memory of Jim may be made to Kalamazoo County Council on Aging, Otsego United Methodist Church or to
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.
Offer Condolence for the family of James A. Deneau
Condolence Messages
Kathy Peterson
March 1, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Jim and Ellen sorry to hear about Jims father sending our prayers and love
Reply
Tim and Marcia Quigley
March 2, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Dear Family of Jim,
We are saddened of the passing of Jim. He was such a nice man, he always had a smile on his face.! Please know he is with Burtie, and is a beautiful Angel watching over you! We send our love and prayers!
Reply
Craig & Monica VandeWerken
March 2, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Jim was a wonderful man and always had a smile and kind words for everyone. We’ miss him but glad he’s with Burtie again.
Reply
Penny Baker
March 2, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Remembering Jim fondly. Our sincerest condolences to you all.
Reply
Nyla Merrill
March 2, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Jim and Ellyn: I am so sorry to hear of the passing of you dad. He was such a nice man. Always had a smile!
Our condolences go out to your families.
Nyla and Paul
Reply
SUE BRICKER
March 2, 2021 at 4:10 pm
So sorry for Jim’s passing. Will be well remembered.
Reply
Maria Dinah Howrigon
March 2, 2021 at 5:01 pm
So sorry to hear of jims passing.
Reply
Rick and Karen Clemens
March 2, 2021 at 5:10 pm
Jim and Ellyn and family: So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. We have great memories of your parents at church and of Jim putting in our septic system. He always had a kind word and a smile. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Ron Klug
March 2, 2021 at 5:14 pm
Jim was always smiling. We had a good time together on the 2013 Alaska trip and he seemed to take pleasure in any activity—purportedly even enjoying MSU tailgates, as difficult as that is for me to comprehend. My condolences to the entire family.
Reply
Michael Vanarsdal
March 2, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Deneau family so sorry for your loss. Uncle Jim, as I knew him, was a wonderful person. He always had a joke and an infectious laugh that always brought a smile to all. He will be missed.
Reply
Kathleen Fisher
March 2, 2021 at 7:35 pm
Jim and Ellyn,
So sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers for peace and comfort for you and your family.
Reply
James Msner
March 2, 2021 at 7:44 pm
Ellyn, I am so very sorry to hear of the great loss to you and your family. Let us rely on the compassion of God to bring us through this.
Jim
Reply
Bernice Sinner
March 2, 2021 at 8:10 pm
What a wonderful, warm hearted person Jim was! I will always remember at Tom and Jackies wedding when the band started playing, he grabbed me onto the dance floor and boogied down! Loved by everyone, will be missed by all. Rest easy.
Reply
Josie Pape
March 2, 2021 at 11:37 pm
Jim, Ellyn and family,
I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of your father. He was always such a sweet man, with such a great smile.
He is now in heaven enjoying his love.
Reply
Sue Lindsey
March 3, 2021 at 9:11 am
So sorry to hear of your Dads passing…my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time….keep the memories close…Hugs and Love to you all…
Reply
Char Forbes
March 3, 2021 at 1:54 pm
So sorry to hear about the passing of “Uncle Jim”. Always loved his sweet smile and generous hugs! It is certain he is now smiling while dancing with “Aunt Burtie”! May you be comforted by warm memories. Love and hugs to you all.
Reply
Anthony Seekman
March 3, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Very sadden to hear about the loss of Jim. Always such a great man to be around. Treated me like one of his own. Will be thinking of the family in this hard time.
Reply
Ken Ark
March 3, 2021 at 3:08 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about Grandpa Deneau. My heart hurts for my friends. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. May God grant you comfort and peace.
Reply
Linda
March 3, 2021 at 4:48 pm
I will miss him so much on Tuesday nights and his kisses that he gave and that smile he was happy all the time
thanks to his family for taking care of him and not letting him go to a home
Reply
David J. Delemme
March 3, 2021 at 5:09 pm
To the entire James A Deneau family: We at American Legion Post 84 of Otsego, Michigan, send our thoughts and prayers to your family. James was a 22 year member at Post 84, and served in many positions as a Post 84 officer. He was well respected, and liked by all of us at Post 84. James also helped with many legion programs that helped local veterans, children and youth, and our local community. He will be remembered at Post 84 for his service to our country during WWII also. Again, We send our prayers to your family. May God hold him near. “Till we meet again my friend”.
Dave Delemme / Allegan County Commander for the Department of the Michigan American Legion.
Reply
Ray Fuller
March 4, 2021 at 3:27 pm
My deepest condolences to Jim and Tom and all their families on the loss of Jim.
Knowing how nice he was, always a smile and fun things he says about everything,
I enjoyed being around him even though it wasn’t a lot, but still enjoyable.
Jim will be a huge loss to all who knew him.
Rest in peace Jim, I’ll catch up with you later.
Ray Fuller
Reply
Michael Goff
March 6, 2021 at 9:22 am
So sorry to learn about James passing. What a great person I was blessed to know. His son Dave was one of my best friends growing up.
Reply
Jessica Langley
March 6, 2021 at 12:24 pm
Uncle Jim and Aunt Ellyn and kids. I am sorry for you’re loss. I knew James for a long time and my sister and I would go to Aunt Ellyn and Uncle Jim’s house for family gatherings and James Deneau would be their. I only know James as Grandpa James Deneau. I will miss him very much and I will miss his smile and his hugs. Two years ago some of the Meeter Family and Deneau Family and Linton Family got together and Grandpa James was there. He will be missed by a lot of people.
Reply
Jerry and Franny Laster
March 11, 2021 at 8:58 am
Jim and Ellyn, we are so sorry to hear about your dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We have fond memories of Jim and you guys. Such good times. He was kind, caring , had a great personality, always a smile and a hug. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Reply
Craig and Ann Russell
March 14, 2021 at 2:37 pm
We just heard the news of Big Jim’s passing. We have so many wonderful memories of him and Bertie plus the rest of the Deneau family. We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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