By Staff
Hazen James Ake, 76, of 25723 McKenzie St., Dowagiac, died after a long term illness at 11:55 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind.
Jim's life began on April 1, 1930, at Bear Lake in Manistee County, Mich. He was one of 12 children born to Charles Ake and Lulu (Bolinger) Ake.
As a young man, he served in the military for the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.
On Feb. 24, 1951, in Traverse City, he married the former Marcia Weaver.
To this union, four children were born.
Mr. Ake worked for Elcona Foods of Elkhart, Ind., for more than 20 years as a meat cutter and later was employed as a truck driver by Morgan Drive Away Service for 18 years until retiring.
Jim's hobbies and loves included gardening, country music and the great outdoors, watching game birds, hunting and fishing.
He was a member of Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church of Dowagiac.
Funeral Mass will be officiated by Father Leo Taubitz at 11 a.m. at Holy Maternity Catholic Church on Friday, Oct. 6.
Graveside burial services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens, Traverse City.
Friends may call on the family at Groner Funeral Home and Cremation Services on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Unit, 615 N. Michigan Ave., South Bend, IN 46601.
Surviving family members are: his wife, Marcia Ake of Dowagiac; two daughters, Debra (Larry) Cripe of Edwardsburg and Ruth (Cal) Knudson of Granger, Ind.; two sons, Chuck (Cindy) Ake and Winston (Cheryl) Ake, both of Niles; two sisters, Hazel (LaVerne) Wallace of Bear Lake and Helen (Roger) Anderson of Clarksville, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and eight brothers.
Condolence messages may be left at www.gronerfuneralhome.com.