James Steed

James “Jim” Edward Steed, age 79, passed away Monday morning, January 29, 2024 surrounded by his family. James was affectionately known as Dad, Papa, Grandpa, and PopPop to his children and grandchildren. He was the eldest son of Donna (Mullett) & Basil Steed and grew up with his brothers, Dan & Bernie, while being raised in Shephard, MI. On June 7, 1980, James married Debra (Hauser) Steed and enjoyed nearly 39 years of marriage until her passing in 2019. James was employed by General Motors-Fisher Body Plant for 30 years eventually retiring as a supervisor. Throughout his career, he demonstrated exceptional dedication and hard work, qualities that also shone brightly in his personal life. His adventurous spirit extended to his hobbies, which included fishing, hunting, boating, and camping. He spent summers at Brower Park with family and during hunting season at Oil City, as well as the C.I.A. Camp in Crystal Falls. He checked off a bucket list item and spent a month exploring Alaska with his “brothers”. He loved to share his memorable moments through photos and enjoyed bragging about his children and grandchildren which only reflected his adoration for his family and friends. He was a do-it-yourself kind of man, meticulous when it came to his carpentry projects and loved tinkering in his pole barn. Despite his adventurous nature, he remained safety-conscious, regularly reminding his loved ones to be "Damn Careful." James was preceded in death by his parents, Basil and Donna Steed, his wife Debra Steed, and daughter Dawn Steed. He is the proud father of Brian (Bonnie) Steed, Kristina Falwell, and Jamee (Ben) Gonzalez. He is survived by his brothers; Daniel (Marie) & Bernard (Alexa) Steed, and his former wife, Irene Sansote. He was a loving grandfather to Justin, Nick (Nicole), Jeremy (Brenden), Savanna, Breanna, Jarran, Foster, Whittaker, Brannigan, Juniper, and Maime; and a great- grandfather to Parker. He also was the host father to exchange students: Isadora, Nicolas, Andre, and Sascha. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign James's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com. As we celebrate his life, let his legacy be a reminder of the importance of family, the value of hard work, and most importantly, to be "Damn Careful" in all that we do. The family invites all to a Celebration of Life on June 1st, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Brower Park in Mecosta County. (23056 Polk Rd, Stanwood, MI 49346) Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen’s Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, 616-754-5638. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Steed, please visit our flower store.