Jimmy A. "Jim" Stafford's Obituary
Jimmy Arntz “Jim” Stafford passed away March 30, 2026, at a local hospital. He was born January 16, 1944 in Athens, Tennessee to James & Dorothy Staffod but resided in Michigan most of his life.
He was preceded in death by several family members including his parents; brother, John Stafford,
sisters, Lila Bird and Mary Jo Wilbur; first wife, Sharon and second wife, Colleen.
Jim is survived by brothers, Jerry (Micki) Stafford and Bill (Linda) Stafford; sisters , Shirley Shirley (Rick) Brakebill, Joyce Hollowell, Mary Jo Wilbur and Vicki (Mark) Cioe; sons, Joe Stafford and Brandon (Haley) Stafford; daughter, Shelly Stafford (Ron) David; grandchildren, Jessica (RJ) Pierson, Jenna (Brandon) Vendervelde, Shelby (John) Pyne, Kayla (P.J.) Bates, and Dylan (Bella) Stafford; and 7 great grandchildren, Malakai, Cash, Haven, Parker, Vivian, Valerie, Augustus (Auggie) and Oakley.
Jim will be remembered for many things, but his love of fishing made it possible for the family to get together several times a year for a fish fry. He also enjoyed hunting, although in his later years, his hunting shack in the U.P. was mostly a small, heated place for him to go and drink coffee, eat cookies and take a nap often while accompanied by a grandchild.
Earlier years found him at the bowling alley with his work league and most likely a beer or two along with it.
Grandkids always knew when grandpa invited them over to spend the night, they were being drafted to help him clean out a low-level shelf. Of course, they were rewarded with chocolate chip quesadillas for dinner and most likely cash, but that part was kept hush hush between them.
Jim loved to cook but he was famous for his homemade, southern style sausage gravy and biscuits ~ biscuits paper thin for some and a bowl of plain gravy for others. It didn’t matter; he catered to everyone’s personal requirements. “Frosting Pie” anyone?
He spent much of his free time in the U.P. at granny’s house with his family. Stories could be told for days about those trips. He cherished that time with his sons, grandkids and granny. Many don’t know this but granny once “proposed” to Jim after she went into a nursing home – “if we get married, you can break me out of here.”
Thanksgiving dinner in the U.P., cleaning up the kitchen after everyone had eaten and finding a fly in the gravy. Most people would say “throw it away.” Not Jim, His response? “ok, who all knows about it?” Or the time Shelby, Kayla and Brandon attempted to explain Facebook and My Space to him while offering to help him create an account for both. He politely replied, “I don’t use Spacebook.” Jim also preferred a phone call rather than reply to a text with his “text machine.”
At Jim’s request, there will be no official service. The family only asks that everyone take a moment to remember him with a smile and if given the opportunity, share a story with his family.
What’s your fondest memory of Jimmy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jimmy?
Share a story where Jimmy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jimmy you’ll never forget.
How did Jimmy make you smile?