James “Jim” Donlin Depew

Born on August 5th, 1937, in Munising to Bertha (Hixon) and Willard Depew, Jim grew up with four siblings in the little city, which he always held dear to his heart. Jim knew the importance of loving big and laughing often. He went by many names, but some of his favorites were “Coach” and “Papa”.

In his later years, you could often find him in gymnasiums and auditoriums throughout the Upper Peninsula, supporting his numerous grandchildren in every sports game, play, and National Honor Society induction alongside his wife, Laurie, with an adoring smile, always letting everyone know just how proud he was of them. Any time he entered a local bar or restaurant, there was always at least one person who would call out to him, “Jimmy!”

Jim graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1955. During that time, he excelled at sports, specifically basketball and football. He, along with his good friends Frank Hamilla, Gary Delilsle, and Chuck Nebel, were 1954 Boys Basketball U.P. Champions. The last time that the Munising boys’ basketball team had won the U.P. Championship, Jim’s dad, Willard, and his eventual father-in-law, Robert Runsat, were teammates and instrumental in bringing the win home in 1930.

After high school, Jim played for the Sault Tech Hornets at Michigan Tech College – Sault Branch (now Lake Superior State University), where Hamilla was once again his teammate. Their 1956 team still has records standing at LSSU, including most points per game, most wins in a season, and the highest win percentage. Jim and his teammates were inducted into LSSU’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, something he was especially grateful for.

Jim went on to play one year of JV basketball for NMU in 1957 and graduated with a Physical Education degree in 1962, working at the Kimberly Clark Papermill and the Forest Inn during that time. He earned a Master of Education/Administration degree from NMU in 1970 while attending Michigan State University for one summer.

Shortly after graduating with his bachelor’s degree from Northern, Jim met Laurie Ann Runsat at the Buckhorn Resort just outside of Munising.

Known for his charming personality, he mustered up the courage to ask her for a ride home. To thank her, he bought her a burger at a restaurant downtown a few days later.

Jim and Laurie were married on June 6th, 1964, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, beginning a long legacy of a family consisting of five children, 18 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren, who all share a love for their communities, sports, having a good time, and people.

Starting a teaching career at Eben High School (now Superior Central Schools), Jim also coached basketball. Jim, Laurie, and their daughter, Molly, moved to Newberry in 1965, where he coached basketball, football, and golf, and held various teaching positions for 11 years before moving to Ontonagon after accepting a position as the community schools director.

Shortly after, he became a Prudential insurance agent and eventually moved back to Newberry, the village he proudly called home for his remaining years, to work for Beaudin and Malloy, an insurance company which later became the Jim Depew Agency. Although he retired many years ago, you could still find him behind his desk until the mid-2000s.

Jim loved Newberry and the people who called it home. He not only showed his appreciation by attending every sporting event he could fit into his busy schedule, but also by being a member of the Newberry Elks Club, Newberry Country Club, Newberry Ambassadors, St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Newberry Sports Boosters, Tahquamenon Area Credit Union board, and an MHSAA official for many years.

Family and friends meant everything to Jim. He loved in a big way and was proud of the community he and Laurie built their lives around. He treated everyone equally and believed in people, even when they doubted themselves. He was a mentor, even when he wasn’t coaching, someone who wholeheartedly listened when you spoke to him, a person who stood beside people when they had no one else. He was present and happy. Although he suffered loss and made mistakes, he was open about it. He was human, but the best kind.

Jim cherished summers spent at “camp” at 16 Mile Lake, where he met his good friend Kerry Way, who introduced him to the saying “I think I love you.” Although Kerry was quoting a popular song from the 1970s, Jim made it his own, starting conversations with loved ones or ending late-night phone calls, usually after a couple of Brandy Manhattans, with a boisterous “I THINK I LOVE YOU.”

Although Jim and Laurie sold the 16 Mile Lake camp and purchased a cabin on Big Manistique Lake near McMillan in the early 2000s, they still maintained old friendships and made new ones, welcoming everyone to their little piece of paradise whenever possible.

Jim’s favorite things included taking pontoon rides, golfing, watching Michigan sports (even if he spent half of the time yelling at the television), attending as many games as possible in Newberry ­ especially when his family was involved – and traveling with friends.

After retirement, Jim and Laurie spent their winters in Green Valley, Arizona, for nearly 20 years, where they had a crew, always awaiting their arrival.

Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Laurie, and his five children, Molly (Larry) Orr, Kenn (Shorleen) Depew, Robert “Hondo” Depew, Jason “Ace” (Theresa) Depew, and Jimm (Toni) Depew; brother-in-law Rick (Lorraine) Runsat; 18 grandchildren ­ Jaymie, Kyle, Jamie, Brett, Marissa, Adrian, Logan, Tyler, Bryanna, Darion, James, Cameron D., Kennedy, Trenidy, Alazayah, Gaiyje, Cameron B., and Lola; 9 great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and many…MANY special friends.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Bertha (Hixon) Depew; brothers, David and Jack (Linda) Depew, and sisters Molly (George) Schmidt and Beverly (David) Ghiardi; parents-in-law, Robert and Edna (Tourville) Runsat; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Robert (Annabelle) Runsat and Kenneth “Idge” (Mary) Runsat.

Services will be held at St. Gregory Catholic Church in Newberry on Friday, August 22, 2025. Visiting time with family and friends will be from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Father Jacek Wytklo will celebrate Jim’s memorial Mass at 2:00 p.m. There will be a celebration of life at the Newberry Elk’s Club following Mass. Interment will be on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising at 11:00 a.m. All friends and family are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim’s name may be made to the Tahquamenon Area Sports Boosters (TASB), P.O. Box 299, Newberry, MI 49868.

Jim’s obituary and tribute wall may be found at bowermanfuneralhome.net