James L. Jocks

James L. Jocks, of Midland, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, April 29th, in his home with his sons, brother, sisters, and wife by his side. His leaving was peaceful and expected, as he had battled a rare neurological disease for several years. The disease never dampened his loving nature and sense of humor.

Jim was born in Tawas City, Michigan on April 3rd, 1948. He attended Oscoda schools, graduating in June, 1966. He was a member of the small cohort of students who met on the first day of kindergarten and left Oscoda High together. He earned an Associate's Degree from Alpena Community College in 1968 and a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Western Michigan University in 1970. He married Gayle Smith of Oscoda in August of that year and began work at Dow Corning Corporation in Midland. He remained at Dow Corning until he retired in 2004, shortly before his son Jeff's graduation from law school and the birth of his first grandchild. Jim returned to work at Central Michigan University and later contracted at Hemlock Semi-Conductor, retiring for a second time in 2009.

Jim was a sometimes quiet, sometimes outgoing man with many friends. He met friends everywhere; tuxedoed waiters at the Grand Hotel, electrical contractors and shop workers at Dow Corning (who threatened to cut off his psychedelic tie and eventually did so at a retirees' dinner), corporate leaders, fishermen from all over the U.S., bikers, and camera enthusiasts. He was passionate about fishing all his life and travelled to Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Canada, Kentucky, North Carolina and Alaska to fish (where he shared the river with equally intent grizzly bears. Bears and men escaped unhurt, fortunately). He rode his Harley in the Florida Keys and snowmobiles in the U.P., played golf all over Michigan and in Williamsburg, Virginia; captained his 30-foot Four Winns, fished with close friends in Canada for many years, cruised with Gayle in a series of convertibles after growing tired of eating bugs on the Harley, sailed in the Caribbean and to Catalina Island with his brother Bob, and avidly followed Michigan State football and basketball.

Jim and Gayle have two sons – lawyer Jeff (Jodi) in Traverse City and history professor Mike (Jen) in Oak Park, Illinois. They share four beloved grandchildren – Gram, Theo, Noah and Laney. They spent happy Christmases in Chicago and Traverse City and Fourths of July on the Saginaw River for the Bay City fireworks. Jim is already much missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and grand-dogs and -cats. He was blessed with deeply loving families, including his parents (Lloyd and Helen Jocks of Oscoda), siblings Linda, Diana, Bob, Ellen and Barbara, and a long and happy marriage with Gayle. He fulfilled many of his lifelong dreams and lived an exemplary life.

Suggested memorial contributions may be directed to Trout Unlimited or CurePSP (psp.org). A memorial gathering is tentatively planned for August 2025.