- Date Of Birth: April 19, 1927
- Date Of Death: May 12, 2021
- State: Michigan
James A. Kendall, 94 of Midland, died May 12, 2021 at Independence Village. A lifelong resident of Midland, he is survived by his wife Mary (Tooney), his daughter Anne Husser (Edward deceased), his son Charles (Allison), daughter-in-law Sarah Kendall Fisher, grandsons Jeffrey (Angela) Kendall, Stuart (Maria) Kendall, Scott Kendall, granddaughters Katie Kendall, Grace Kendall and Mary Husser and great grandson George Kendall. His son Peter Kendall predeceased him.
Mr. Kendall attended Midland schools and following high school graduation served in the U.S. Navy. He then enrolled at Albion College and received his bachelor’s degree in 1950. He studied law at the University of Michigan where he received his law degree. He was employed in the Legal Department of The Dow Chemical Company. In 1962 he joined the late Gilbert A. Currie as a founding partner of the Currie and Kendall law firm where he remained until his retirement. As a member of the State Bar of Michigan he served as President of the Midland County Bar Association and as Chairman of the Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar. He was the first General Counsel of Saginaw Valley State University and as counsel to Northwood University for many years.
Mr. Kendall served as Secretary and a trustee of the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Lawyers. He was a lifetime member, Elder and Trustee of Memorial Presbyterian Church, and was a longtime member and past President of the Midland Rotary Club. He served on the Board of Directors of Chemical Banks in Clare and in Midland for several years. He was a founding trustee and Secretary of the Midland Area Community Foundation, a member and former Chairman of the Midland Music Foundation, past officer of the Midland Symphony Orchestra and a founding trustee of the Midland Art Council. In 1968 he was a cofounder of Eagle Boys Village (now Eagle Village) and served as its Chairman of the Board for many years.
Jim loved to sing and was a member of the Chancel Choir at Memorial Presbyterian Church as well as several singing organization throughout his college, law school and later years. He treasured his time with family and friends, especially the times spent at the family cottage at the Birches on Wixom Lake and his winters in Boca Grande, Florida. He was a good and loving man who will be greatly missed by his family.
