Obituary
Zephyrhills, FL – James R. "Jimm" Honkala, age 66, former Ishpeming resident of 36409 Arbor Oak Dr., Zephyrhills, FL died on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at the Community Hospital in New Port Richey, FL following an apparent heart attack.
James was born August 22, 1940 in Ishpeming, MI the son of the late Walter W. Honkala and Mildred (Quayle) Honkala. His father died when Jim was young and he was raised by his grandmother Florence Quayle Cowling. He was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1958. He went on to serve in the United States Navy from 1958-1963, returning to this area following his discharge.
James worked as a salesman for several years at Sears, Pitney Bowes and Met Life. He also owned and operated several area businesses including the Triangle Motel, Chuck Wagon Restaurant, Butler Theater, and Triangle Reality. He was a lifetime ELKS member, past president of the Ishpeming Chamber of Commerce, and one of the first to undergo heart by-pass surgery in 1980 at Marquette General Hospital which was filmed and aired on local television. James also enjoyed fishing and camping, especially on the Dead River Basin. He left this area in the mid-1990's moving to Kalamazoo and Cleveland, prior to moving to Florida.
James is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Kathleen (Gelmi) Honkala of Zephyrhills, FL; 2 daughters Jodi (Al) Firby of Ishpeming, Jeanne (Joe) Voet of Westland, MI; 2 brothers Ronald (Mary) Honkala of Ishpeming, Allen (Marlys) Gustafson of Burnsville, MN; 5 grandchildren - Elizabeth, Sarah and Emma Firby, & Rocco and James Voet; special uncles James "Chirp" Quayle of Ishpeming and Douglas Quayle of Marquette, a sister-in-law – Arlene Honkala of Ishpeming, a brother-in-law – Joe (Kathy) Gelmi of Sturtevant, WI, along with several nieces and nephews.
James was preceded in death by his brother William "Bill" Honkala and grandmother Florence Cowling.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00pm on Tuesday June 5, 2007 at the Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home in Ishpeming with Rev. Scott Lindenberg to officiate. Burial will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.
Friends may call the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2:00pm
until the time of service at 4:00pm, the Ishpeming Elks Lodge will hold services at 3:30pm.
James was born August 22, 1940 in Ishpeming, MI the son of the late Walter W. Honkala and Mildred (Quayle) Honkala. His father died when Jim was young and he was raised by his grandmother Florence Quayle Cowling. He was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1958. He went on to serve in the United States Navy from 1958-1963, returning to this area following his discharge.
James worked as a salesman for several years at Sears, Pitney Bowes and Met Life. He also owned and operated several area businesses including the Triangle Motel, Chuck Wagon Restaurant, Butler Theater, and Triangle Reality. He was a lifetime ELKS member, past president of the Ishpeming Chamber of Commerce, and one of the first to undergo heart by-pass surgery in 1980 at Marquette General Hospital which was filmed and aired on local television. James also enjoyed fishing and camping, especially on the Dead River Basin. He left this area in the mid-1990's moving to Kalamazoo and Cleveland, prior to moving to Florida.
James is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Kathleen (Gelmi) Honkala of Zephyrhills, FL; 2 daughters Jodi (Al) Firby of Ishpeming, Jeanne (Joe) Voet of Westland, MI; 2 brothers Ronald (Mary) Honkala of Ishpeming, Allen (Marlys) Gustafson of Burnsville, MN; 5 grandchildren - Elizabeth, Sarah and Emma Firby, & Rocco and James Voet; special uncles James "Chirp" Quayle of Ishpeming and Douglas Quayle of Marquette, a sister-in-law – Arlene Honkala of Ishpeming, a brother-in-law – Joe (Kathy) Gelmi of Sturtevant, WI, along with several nieces and nephews.
James was preceded in death by his brother William "Bill" Honkala and grandmother Florence Cowling.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00pm on Tuesday June 5, 2007 at the Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home in Ishpeming with Rev. Scott Lindenberg to officiate. Burial will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.
Friends may call the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2:00pm
until the time of service at 4:00pm, the Ishpeming Elks Lodge will hold services at 3:30pm.
To order memorial trees in memory of James R. "Jimm" Honkala, please visit our tree store.
James R. "Jimm" Honkala's Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors