James F. McGovern, age 70, of 1411 Stephenson Avenue, passed away peacefully Friday morning, December 10, 2010, at his residence, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Jim was born July 22, 1940, in Escanaba, the son of Francis and Mildred (Myers) McGovern. Jim was raised in Escanaba and was a 1960 graduate of the Escanaba Senior High School. On May 25, 1963, Jim was united in marriage to the former Betty Ann Myrsten at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Escanaba. Together, Jim and Betty made their home and raised their family in North Town. Betty preceded Jim in death on December 29, 1986. Also in 1963, Jim gained a position with Chicago North Western Railroad and retired, as a yard foreman, from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1990. Following retirement, Jim loved to spend time at his camp in Boney Falls, especially during hunting season, where he enjoyed hunting with his son Mark. Jim enjoyed Packer Sundays, Michigan Wolverine football, hunting, fishing, golfing and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Jim leaves to survive, his loving companion Theresa Begovich:
Son: Mark (Laurie) McGovern of Marquette, MI
Daughters: Michelle (Rob) Cheever of Oconomowoc, WI; Carmen (Warren) Bub of Oconomowoc, WI
Sister: Judith (Gary) Cavill of Colorado
Grandchildren: Taylor, Courtney, Connor , Erica, Ashley and Kyle
Brother in law: Gary Myers of Racine, WI
Many nieces, nephews and cousins
He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mildred, wife Betty and sister Joan Myers.
At the request of the James F. McGovern, private visitation and funeral services will be conducted, at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home, at the convenience of the McGovern family. Jim will be laid to rest next to his wife Betty at the Gardens of Rest Cemetery in Wells. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are in care of arrangements.
Anonymous
On the occasions that I’d run into Jim he’d always take the time to chat. I’ll always remember him as a nice gentleman. My sympathy to the family.
Virginia Clairmont
Escanaba, MI
Dear Carmen,
I want you to know how much I am thinking about you. It is very hard to say good-bye to our dads; those guys who gave us so much advice and watched us grow into strong and confident women.
I hope the peace and wonder of the Christmas Season brings comfort to you and your family as you remember the good times together with your Dad.
Jo Maupin
Waukesha, WI
I am sorry to hear Jim passed away. I knew he was bad sick but I prayed for the best. Jim and I go back a long ways. We became friends in the third grade. Throughout the years we spent a great deal of time hunting and fishing together. Recently, when I was learning to play golf he gave some good pointers. He was a good friend and although we drifted apart in our later years I still have fond memories. I think back to him and I sleeping in old blankets under the stars near the Portage Creek near Escanaba. We would listen all night to the frogs and crickets in the swamp. We were after the elusive Brook Trout. Another fond memory is of Jim and I smuggling the hind quarters of a doe out of the woods. He had shot it by mistake and we were told the game warden was in the area. So we put a hind quarter under the front seat of my 1951 Studebaker. and drove out the west Rock road. My I got home we cut up the meat. My brother took the car on a date with his fianc