James Stanley Rolfe

ROLFE, James Stanley Allegan James Stanley Rolfe age 84, passed away on March 5, 2013 with his family present at Allegan General Hospital after succumbing to the final stages of Parkinson's disease. He was born on October 4, 1928 to Stanley and Williamine Rolfe in Muskegon Michigan. James grew up in Muskegon. He attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Michigan where he received his bachelors degree in education and later went back and earned his master's in education. He served in the Air force as a weather observer stationed in Guam during the Korean War. He taught social studies at Allegan High School for 33 years. He loved all sports and enjoyed coaching JV basketball for 25 years. He also coached football and tennis. He was honored to be inducted into the Allegan High School Sports Hall of Fame. James married Margaret LaCrone in Kalamazoo Michigan in 1951. They were married for 61 years. James was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd where he served on the vestry, was the senior warden for many years and received the Bishops Service Cross award for service to the church. Teaching social studies for many years sparked his interest in becoming involved in local government. He served on the Allegan City Council and later as the Mayor of Allegan. He then became a county commissioner and served from 1972 to 1986. He was the chairman of the board for ten of those years. In retirement he was an Allegan County Road Commissioner for 18 years. He loved Allegan and spent much time and energy promoting it through his involvement in the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Corporation and the Historical Society. He spent summers at the family cottage in Pentwater and had many special gatherings with family and friends over the years. . He is survived by his wife Margaret, his sister Carol Ann (Jerry) Miller, his brother in law Fred(Jodi) LaCrone , his daughters Peggy Rolfe, Marcia (Tom) Walter, Patty (John) Stoll, Diane( Victor) Perez his grandchildren Alisa Walter, Enrique Perez, Evan, Connor and Garrett Stoll. He will be remembered at a memorial service at the Episcopal Church of the Good Sheppard in Allegan on April 6 at 11:00am with visitation at 10:00am with a luncheon at the church to follow. Burial will be at the fort Custer Veterans National Cemetery in Battle Creek at a later date..Memorial donations can be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, Dollars for Scholars or the Episcopal church. Friends may share a memory online at. www.avinkcremation.com.