James A. Baldwin departed this world and entered the gates of heaven on March 6, 2022 in Sun City Center, Florida where he spent the last fifteen winters not shoveling snow.

 

He was born to Charles J. and Cleo I. (Midget) Baldwin on September 23, 1936 in Michigan City, Indiana, and as he told it, was the apple of their eyes.

 

He married Sandra L. (Loetz) Daniels on November 19, 1986 at the Candlelight Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada where they secretly eloped.

 

He was dad to Charles B. (Lisa Lanter) Baldwin, James R. (Kim Trujillo) Balwin, Lynnette A. (Tim) Czizek, Pamela J. (Eric Johnson) Daniels and Kristen L. (John) Cary. He always enjoyed being a part of whatever scheme or plan they were up to.

 

He was grampa to Jesse R. (Megan Barrett) Baldwin, Holli M. (Kourtney Weston) Baldwin, Parker J. Czizek, Jennifer (Michael) Stewart and Michael Lanter (deceased). He watched them with pride as they grew from tots to successful young adults.

And he was great grampa to Harper, Mila and Palmer Baldwin and Owen and Eli Stewart. Sadly he was not given enough time with them.

 

He loved his family; they were always the highest priority in his life. You could always go to him for an honest answer and trust his judgment. And you definitely couldn't stay mad at him for long.

 

In 1960 he joined his father's business, Triplex Plating, in Michigan City, Indiana, now proudly in its 4th generation. If you dealt with him, you could trust him and take him at his word. And he continued to arrive at the office daily well after retirement age to share his input with them.

 

Through the years he enjoyed tennis, golf, flying, boating, motorcycles, vacationing, family and friend get-togethers, campfires, drone flying, telling jokes and had a great sense of humor. People gathered around to hear his latest joke, his last venture or his next scheme. He always made you laugh. He was never afraid to try new things.

 

As a lifelong resident of Michigan City, he was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Trail Creek Board of Zoning Appeals, Port Authority, Economic Development Committee, LaPorte Superior Court #1 Probation Advisory Board and a 50-year member of the NASF (National Association of Surface Finishers).

 

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.