James Gregory Polise, age 81, of Sarasota, Fla., and Beulah, Mich., passed away on June 19, 2024, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer.
He was born Jan. 31, 1943, in Chicago, to the late Sam and Elsie Littner Polise. Jim graduated from Fenger High School in Chicago in 1961. He then graduated from Northrup Aeronautical Institute in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1963 with a degree in aviation maintenance. He honorably served in the United States Army as a helicopter mechanic from 1963 - 1966, including an extended deployment in Korea.
Jim's first love was aviation and he always said he could not believe someone would pay him to fly around the world. Starting as co-pilot in 1967 with Commuter Airlines in Sheboygan, Wis., he quickly became a captain and subsequently became chief pilot for Zimmer in Warsaw, Indiana, where he flew for 21 years. From 1991-1999 he was an international captain for Unum Insurance in Portland, Maine. He spent two years as a charter captain at Image Air then returned to Zimmer as international senior captain flying the Challenger 604, retiring in 2009 with a total of 23,000 logged flying hours.
He was an active member of American Legion Post 253 in North Webster and an active member of the Greenfield, Ind., and Frankfort, Mich., American Legion Honor Guards. Jim was past commander of U.S. Power Squadron in Portland, Maine. He was a logistics team member of Indianapolis Air Show and a team member for the IU Health Miles for Myeloma annual ride. He was also commander of the Sun Outdoors Resort Veterans Honor Guard in Sarasota, Fla., from 2019-2024 and led their fundraising efforts to benefit veterans in the area. In retirement, he loved sailing his remote control one meter sailboat with the Sun Outdoors and Sarasota Model Yacht Clubs. He and Yvonne also enjoyed traveling in his RV around the country. Boating and fishing were other passions, as was flying his 1958 Cessna 172.
Jim married Yvonne Houlne (who survives) on July 15, 1967, in Aurora, Ill. They have three daughters: Connie (Mike) Mills, Deb Polise (husband Kevin Jowitt) and Vickie (John) Slater; and three grandsons: Mitchell and Chandler Mills and Jack Slater. He is also survived by sisters, JoAnn (Gary) Henger and Joyce Polise; and brother, Jack (Pat) Polise.
He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, strength, and integrity that will continue to inspire those who were lucky enough to know him. Services will be held on July 2 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort, Mich., with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Crystal Lake North Cemetery in Frankfort, Mich.
Memorial contributions can be made to SNF Honor Guard c/o Nancy Blome at 163 Hidden Lane, Lexington, SC 29072.
Arrangements by Jowett Family Funeral Home of Benzonia, Mich.