James A. Cherry

James A. Cherry, 58, of Stevensville, passed away Monday, April 02, 2007 at home with his family after a long battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Rd., with the Rev. Gordon Barry officiating. Private burial will follow next week at the Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Lincoln Township. Visitation will be held at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday. Memorial donations may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service, Stevensville Hospice at Home, the Stevensville United Methodist Church, or the Children’s Assessment Center. Jim was born on August 1, 1948 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the oldest of four sons. After graduating from Cedar Springs High School in 1966, he attended Central Michigan University “to play hockey”. Once at CMU, he realized he loved academics as well, and graduated in 1970 with high honors. Jim then entered Officer Candidate School and was an ensign in the Navy Reserve for two years before resuming his studies. He obtained a masters degree with high honors in experimental psychology at Central, then earned a law degree at Wayne State University. Jim was an Assistant Prosecutor with the Oakland County Prosecutors Office for several years before joining the Berrien County Prosecutors office in 1981. He served in the capacities of Assistant Prosecutor, Chief Trial Attorney and Chief Assistant Prosecutor before his appointment as Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney in 1999. As Prosecutor, Jim was known for his integrity and passion in the pursuit of justice. He retired on August 23, 2006 and was truly enjoying retirement until a recent downturn in his health. Jim was active in the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, the local bar association and with Police Services Council. He served on the Berrien County Red Cross Board and was on the Executive Committee of the Berrien County Republican Party. Jim was a very devoted family man with a wonderful, wry sense of humor and a fondness for playing pranks on friends, family and co-workers. He enjoyed gardening and yard work, history, golfing, sailing and bike riding. Jim leaves behind his beloved wife, Lynda Tolen, of 15 years; son, Robert (Jen) of whom he was so proud; and darling grand twins, Timmy and Sarah, of Baltimore, MD; step-daughters Emily Tolen Rudman of Ann Arbor and Alyson Tolen Rudman of Lansing; his wonderful mother, Virginia Cherry of Cedar Springs, MI; brothers Fred (Sylvia), William (Carol) and Scott (Mary), of Rockford/Cedar Springs, MI; uncle Tom Cherry (Bobbi) of Cedar Springs, MI; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in the Grand Rapids/Rockford/Cedar Springs area. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Cherry, who was not only a loving role model but a close friend and golf partner. He will be missed by many who respected, cared for and admired him.