James Hirt

James Robert Hirt passed away on August 26, 2024. He was 81 years old and had lived in Holland, Michigan for almost 50 years. Originally from Piqua, Ohio, he had the pleasure of living in Perrysburg, Ohio and Simi Valley, California before finding home in Holland.

Better known as “Mr. Faye,” Jim was proud to support his wife’s businesses in Downtown Holland, becoming a well-known friend to many merchants and customers alike. Jim’s own career in sales for a variety of industries including greeting cards, food and office furniture was fruitful and full of travel. A little known fact about Jim is when he and Faye were first married, he was a dashing Ohio State Highway Patrol Officer and Frogman. He would delight his daughters with many stories of rescuing people from bus accidents, working through tornadoes and even finding a body in the Maumee River. Throughout his working life, when he was away overnight, he would always bring his wife flowers and his girls a new Matchbox car, instilling in them his pride in whatever automobile he owned. He took great care in keeping his cars clean and spotless, often washing them in his driveway every Saturday afternoon in warm weather. To that end, he leaves behind a 2004 Mercedes E320 and a Ford Flex that belie their 180k+ odometer readings!

Jim’s favorite job of all time was managing the Ravines Golf Course in Saugatuck, Michigan. Golf was Jim’s passion and he couldn’t wait, every spring, for the greens to be ready for his attempts to beat par. He enjoyed many of the courses in West Michigan with friends, sons-in-laws and grandsons and even had a chance to play Whistling Straits, a perk his Kohler-employee-daughter was able to gift him.

In retirement, Jim worked for Health Care Associates Transport, driving Holland residents to a wide variety of healthcare appointments around town and into Grand Rapids. He thoroughly enjoyed lending a hand, meeting new people and hearing their stories. He even learned Spanish so he could better support members of our community for whom English isn’t a main language.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 60 years, Faye Hirt, daughters Julie Hirt and Brenda Pratt, sons-in-law Brad Fleming and Benjamin Pratt and grandsons, James, William and Henry. He is also survived by his 7 brothers and sisters, many siblings-in-law, 28 nieces and nephews and even more extended family. He is preceded in death by grandson Charles Pratt.

Jim wanted to have a Celebration of Life full of memories from his seven siblings, golf stories, dad jokes and chocolate chip cookies. The event his family has created in his honor will be held on what would have been his 60th wedding anniversary - September 12, 2024 from 4:30pm - 7:30pm at Tulyp (formerly known as City Flats Hotel) in downtown Holland. Any and all are welcome.

In lieu of flowers or other memorial gifts, Jim would be most honored if you would make a donation to Disability Advocates of Kent County, an organization for which his grandsons, Will and Henry, are working to raise $10,000 as well as awareness. Jim was proud of his grandsons working to build a better community, a value he held dear. He would be grateful, if you helped them help others, like Jim did for the residents of his Springlane neighborhood, Downtown Holland and whomever he had the chance to meet. You can donate at: https://www.dakc.us/