James Louis Jourdin

James (Jim) Louis Jourdin, 88, of Fort Meyers Beach, FL, passed away Saturday, August 20th, in Fort Myers, FL. Jim was born February 15, 1934, and was raised in Flint, Michigan. He was the son of Roy and Hilda Jourdin and had a younger sister, Linda.

Jim graduated from St. Matthews High School in 1953 and then was in the Army from November of 1956 to November of 1958 when he received an Honorable Discharge. Shortly after he returned home, he went on a blind date with Dorothy Stockman and the rest is history. They fell in love, got married on September 30, 1961, had 5 children and were together for just shy of 60 years.

Jim was lucky enough to work with his wife at General Motors where they both retired from. Shortly after, they moved and built a home on Fife Lake in northern Michigan where they had spent many summers as a family. Later they moved to Illinois to be closer to their grandchildren. There they stayed for many years until moving to Fort Myers Beach, Florida. They loved living on the water.

Jim enjoyed designing their homes through the years as well as working with his hands and completing the homes by designing and building the beautiful multi-level decks. Jim enjoyed working in the yard with his wife on the warm summer days. He eventually took up the hobby of building amazing stone birdhouses. He liked to tell his children and then his grandchildren, “Save your pennies, and your dollars will stick to themselves.” Most of all, he worshipped his family, his loving wife that he truly adored, his five children, his eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He is survived by his 5 children; daughter, Julie Engberg (Matt) of Michigan; and their children, Allen and Amanda; son, James S Jourdin (Renee) of Illinois; daughter, Bridget Davis of Florida; and her son, Benjamin; daughter, Jennifer Kidd (Eric) of Illinois; and their children, McKenzie, McKaylee and Sydney; and son Brent Jourdin of Illinois; and his children Natalee Gifford and Jacob Jourdin and grandson Brantlee Novak. He is also survived by one sister, Linda Nolan (Bill) of Michigan; and her daughter and granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Hilda Jourdin; and wife, Dorothy Jourdin; and son-in-law, Judd Davis.

He was a proud veteran, so in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a veteran’s charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/fort-myers-cremation for the JOURDIN family.