James L. Commissaris
June 10, 1950 – July 28, 2025
In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Milwood United Methodist Church, Lake Louise Christian Summer Camp, Kalamazoo Corvette Club, and Rose Arbor Hospice.
A celebration of life service will be held at Milwood United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 4, 2025, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m. followed by memorial service at 11 a.m. with luncheon afterward. In honor of Jim, please wear your favorite sports team jersey, rugby shirt, or Hawaiian shirt.
Obituary
James “Jim” Lee Commissaris, age 75 from Kalamazoo, MI passed away peacefully from complications of heart surgery on July 28, 2025.
Jim was born on June 10, 1950, to Cecilia (Wdowicki) and Donald Commissaris. Raised in Kalamazoo, Jim graduated from Loy Norrix High School in 1969.
An avid rugby player, he played for the Kalamazoo Rugby Football Club throughout the 1970s.
One night in 1976 while hanging out at his local watering hole, the Knollwood Tavern, he met Susan (Kender) and later married on December 10, 1977. Together they had three children, Brian (Katie) Commissaris, Amanda Commissaris, and Lora Commissaris.
Jim began his 30-year career at Upjohn now Pfizer as a chemical operator.
After retirement Jim spent most of his time tending to his rose garden and was an active member of the Kalamazoo Corvette Club. He enjoyed participating in parades and was an integral part in organizing the Parade of Homes fundraiser for the Corvette Club.
Jim will always be remembered for his wicked sense of humor and wit, his spectacular Christmas decorations that would light up the neighborhood, annual Christmas parties that took place throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and for being the parking guru when it came to teaching the neighborhood teenagers learn how to parallel park so they could pass their driving tests.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Ronald and Gordon along with several aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, Penelope and Audrey Commissaris, sister-in-law Sue Commissaris (“The Original”), nephews Scott and Mark Commissaris and their families, along with several cousins.
Sue + Family, Both Dick and I will miss Jim and his kindness and how helpful he was to everyone that worked with him on the 2 Special Projects that he organized for Fund Raisers thru the Parade of Homes, and the Home Show ! He had a very kind heart and was liked by all!! Heartfelt thoughts + Prayers to your Family, Sue. 🥰💗
We are so sorry for your families loss. Jim was a great part of our Corvette Club. Always enjoyed our times with Jim at the Parade of Homes sets. Sending Sue and the family our condolences.
Sue, Brian, Lora and Amanda, I am so sorry for your loss. I have such great memories of Jim and I am glad for the past we had and I look fondly on them to this day.
I grew up with Jim on Lakeway Avenue in the late 50’s, and early 60″s. A great guy with a unique way of going about his early years including riding a brakeless Sears bike (which he used to stop by holding his tennis shoe bottom against the rear tire). Jim also helped his dad picking up old newspapers, and recycling them on Saturdays for the State Hospital Boy Scout troop, which his dad Don was the Scoutmaster of. A caring guy who was always fun to be around. Rest in peace my friend.
Sue – Bob and I are so sorry for your loss. Though we did not know Jim, we know this is a tremendous loss to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you take this final step of letting go.
One of my favorite memories of Jim was when he drove a “limo” that could be procured to drive some of our adventurous ladies of Milwood UMC to explore southwest Michigan. One such trip was to, I believe, the ‘Dogwood Festival’ in Dowagiac. I can remember Jim’s patience as the ‘girls’ talked non-stop with gales of laughter. Another memory is more recent (maybe 3 or so years ago) when we had our Vacation Church School all ready to go and found out we had no janitor to take over for the week. Jim, who knew all the ins and outs of the church, stepped in and kept us clean and orderly – especially emptying the garbage!