James Merchant

James Mason Merchant, age 76, of Greenville, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at home under the loving care of his family and Corewell Health Hospice. The son of Lawrence Arthur & Marion Annette (Nordberg) Merchant, he was born on August 18, 1946 in Grand Rapids. On October 26, 1968 in Grand Rapids, he married Cheryl Lynn Leopold, and together, they enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage and raised two daughters. James was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and owned MerVan Builders where he built custom, residential homes in the Grand Rapids area. While he had many hobbies and interests, his family, and time spent with them, was his greatest treasure. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence & Marion Merchant. Surviving are his wife, Cheryl Merchant; their two daughters, Robyn & Andrew Schut, and Amy & Chuck Foehr; and three grandchildren, Collin & Sophia Foehr, Mason Schut, and Lukas & Kara Schut. Honoring his wishes for simplicity, cremation has taken place and contributions in memory of Jim, can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or Corewell Health Hospice (formerly Spectrum Health Hospice). Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen's Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, (616) 754-5638, honored providers of Veterans Funeral Care. (616) 754-5638 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Merchant, please visit our flower store.