Jim Monette

He was born in Marquette on March 28, 1951 with his twin sister Judy, to the late Arthur “Joe” and Carol (Doucette) Monette. Jim grew up on the west end of town and was proud of his “Diaper Alley” upbringing. He graduated from Wm. G. Mather in 1969. After school he started working at a number of different mechanic and body shops and later owned his own body shop for a short time.

Jim met Kim Bashaw when she and her teammates asked Jim to coach their women’s softball team. They were married on May 2, 1981. They welcomed their son, Joe, in 1985 and their daughter, Stephanie, in 1987. Over their many years together, they bowled in a couples bowling league, enjoyed snowmobiling, vacationing with family, and playing cards and games with family and friends. Jim, however, was a bit of a poor loser, but who could blame him? Just like his father, he never won a game in “forty years!” His children remember car rides in the fall, camping at Munising Tourist Park, and the many Halloween costumes he would make for them.

Jim worked at Kimberly-Clark in the specialties department and retired in 2006. He enjoyed golfing, and he built custom clubs for himself and many others. He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus and an active member of the Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion. He cherished his time spent there, playing in their shuffleboard league and hanging out with friends. In previous years, he volunteered as a cook on Burger Nights and for breakfast fundraisers at the Legion. Jim was a great cook and enjoyed trying new dishes to share. He made delicious soups, chicken and sliders (grand-peres), and he mastered his mom’s cinnamon rolls. He loved using his smoker, and everyone loved his smoked fish. Watching people enjoy his culinary creations were some of his most fulfilling moments.

Jim is survived by his wife of nearly forty-four years – Kim Monette; children – Joseph Edward Monette and Stephanie Kaye Stewart; siblings – twin sister Judy Pavlica, Durae (Tim) Tiernan, Brenda (Robert “Beas”) Beasley, and Dana (Robin) Monette; brothers and sisters-in-law – Tom (Patty) Bashaw, Karen (Larry) Moore, and Kay (Dennis) Vertz; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his Legion family.

He was preceded in death by his parents – Joe and Carol; infant son – Jamison Monette; infant brother – Michael Monette; brother-in-law – Joe Pavlica; nephew – C.J. Wrona; and mother and father-in-law – Evelyn and Ed Bashaw.

Friends are invited to join Jim’s family for a celebration of his life on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the American Legion in Munising from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. Jim’s obituary and online guestbook may be viewed and signed at bowermanfuneralhome.net.