James 'Jim' Paul Mewbourn

HOUGHTON, Mich. — James “Jim” Paul Mewbourn, 52, of Houghton, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, due to a sudden medical emergency which caused him to lose control of his motorcycle.

He was born in Kenosha, Wis., on Oct. 11, 1962, a son of the late Hubert and Kathleen (Kraynak) Mewbourn.

Jim graduated in 1981 from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, where he played on the school’s football, baseball and wrestling teams. Following high school, he attended Gogebic Community College for two years in the culinary arts program.

On Oct. 5, 1985, he was married to the former Susan Aspinwall at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ironwood. The couple moved to Hancock and also resided in Dollar Bay, before making their home in Houghton, where they have resided for the past 21 years.

Jim was employed locally as a manager at the former Kentucky Fried Chicken in Houghton, and currently was employed with KeHE Foods as a retail sales representative.

Jim was a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Houghton, where he and his family were always willing to volunteer and help out with many of the church’s activities. He was also a former member of the Houghton Lions Club. Jim spent a great deal of his time being involved with his children’s athletics when they were growing up. He spent many hours playing outdoors with them, teaching skills and coaching them along. He was so proud of all of them.

He was a long-time coach for the Houghton Middle School football team, Portage Lake Little League and the Copper Country Soccer Association. Jim, himself, played softball on several local teams. He was a well known avid Minnesota Vikings fan and enjoyed loudly cheering his team on while he watched with family and friends. He was also a huge Elvis Presley fan and enjoyed listening to his music.

Jim also had a love for motorcycles and enjoyed riding with his friends. He looked forward to their weekly rides, stopping for lunch along the way and just hanging out with his buddies.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Sue, of Houghton; his children, Nicholas, of Marquette, Stephanie, who is attending college in Lansing, and twins, Joel and Jordan at home; two brothers, John (Rita) Mewbourn and Chris (Karen) Mewbourn, all of Ironwood; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dennis and Rose Aspinwall, of Bessemer; a sister-in-law, Judy Aspinwall, of Bessemer; a brother-in-law, Dennis (Deb) Aspinwall, of Bessemer; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends. He will be missed by so many, including his dog, Rusty.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Houghton, with Father John Martignon as celebrant and Art Stancher assisting as Deacon. Visitation will be from 4-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the church, with a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. There will be no visitation on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.

Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.