James H. Perry, 69, of St. Joseph, passed away, Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Terry A. Euper officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of SW Michigan, or your local humane society. Those wishing to sign Jim’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Jim was born February 27, 1942 in Winchester, Indiana to Harold H. & Doris (Teegarden) Perry. He graduated from Parker High School in Parker City, Indiana in 1960, from Ball State University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and went on to earn his Masters from Western Michigan University. Jim was employed at St. Joseph High School from 1964 until 1979, as a business teacher. On May 23, 1983, he married the former Karen Curtis in St. Joseph. He left teaching to begin a home repair & remodeling business, beginning in St. Joseph and continuing in Sarasota, FL and Indianapolis, IN. In 1991, Jim & Karen returned to St. Joseph. He was employed for several years at Lowe’s, and later as a custodian at Lincoln Elementary School in St. Joseph, retiring in 2005. Jim was a member of St. Joseph First United Methodist Church and the St. Joseph Township Lions Club. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and especially golf. Jim is survived by his sister Jane (Leroy) Duncan of Farmland, IN; his brother-in-law and sisters–in-law-Jim (Judy) Curtis of Bitely, MI, Marilyn Curtis & Janice Hicks, both of St. Joseph; and several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Karen on March 23, 2005.