Ishpeming – James K. "Skip" Weingartner, age 88, of 107 W. Ridge St., Ishpeming passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at his home while under the loving care of his family and the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.

James was born September 23, 1926 in Minneapolis, MN to the late George and Edith (Boulet) Weingartner. He was raised in Rock, MI and was a graduate of the Rock High School, Class of 1944. He entered the United States Navy during World War II in Nov. of 1944 and served in the submarine division until his discharge on July 20, 1946. He then moved to the Kenosha, WI area for employment at the Nash Auto Plant until his return to the United States Navy from Nov. 16, 1950 until July 20, 1954, during the Korean War where he again served in the Submarine division.

Upon his discharge from the service Skip moved to Ishpeming to be with his wife Merle (Oie) Weingartner whom he married in Nov. of 1950. He had resided in Ishpeming since that time, and worked for the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. at many of the area mines, retiring in the early 1980's as a maintenance foreman.

Skip was a sea-scout leader of the Ishpeming sea explorers, ship #310. He enjoyed playing basketball in the Ishpeming City League and in softball leagues during the summer months, along with the occasional volleyball match. He loved his time spent on his Harley Davidson Motorcycle and made many trips to the annual Harley rally in Sturgis, SD, his last being in 2010. Skip was also a member of the Peninsula Pathfinders Snowmobile Club, with whom he traveled to Yellowstone, Portland, ME, Finland and James Bay, Ont., Canada in order to take snowmobile rides. Skip was also a longtime member of the Rock American Legion.

Survivors include his daughter Candy Jackson of Ishpeming, a son Todd Weingartner of Ishpeming, grandchildren – Donald Broman, Lara (Josh) Vorase, Brad & Nick Weingartner and Rick Keller, a great granddaughter Tayla Rae Keller, sisters-in-law Betty Bannon and Shirley Mattson along with numerous nieces and nephews, and his dog Tamzy. He was preceded in death by his wife Merle Weingartner in 2002, a brother Robert Weingartner, a son-in-law Carroll Jackson, and as everyone knows Adam & Eve.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00am – 12:00noon on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home where a memorial service will begin at 12:00noon with the Rev. Kenneth Lahners to officiate. The family requests casual attire, where your Harley shirt if you have one!!

Pallbearers will be Floyd Johns, Dennis Kasubowski, Paul Watters, Larry Sparks, Charlie Skewis and Kevin Bannon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to UPAWS at upaws.org or to Bay Cliff Health Camp at baycliff.org in memory of Skip.

The family wishes to thank U.P. Home Health and Hospice for their care and concern of Skip, especially for caretakers Kirsten and Kirstyn.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .