MARCH 2, 1943 – AUGUST 11, 2023
James “Jim” Duane Shuster age 80 of Farwell passed away Friday, August 11, 2023 at McLaren Central Michigan, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. James was born March 2, 1943 in Alma, Michigan the son of Smith and Iva (Porter) Shuster. Jim graduated from St. Johns High School in 1961. He furthered his education at Alma College and earned his BS in Chemistry with history and math minors. Mr. Shuster had resided in Farwell since 1965, moving from St. Johns, Michigan. James was united in marriage to Kay Ann Gallup on October 26, 1974 at Farwell United Methodist Church. Mrs. Shuster preceded Jim in death on January 30, 2023 after forty-eight years of marriage.
Mr. Shuster retired from Farwell Area Schools in 1998 after thirty-three years of educating in Algebra and Chemistry. Jim was a member of MPSERS for many years. Jim spent his free time tapping maple trees and making maple syrup for many years, he was an avid gardener, hunting, yearly fishing trips to Schuster’s Resort at Big Manistee Lake, making Sunday brunches for his family, bowling, playing cards, solving jig saw and number puzzles, playing video games, listening to classical music and challenging his students to daily chess games at school. Many will remember Mr. Shuster’s famous, but loud sneezing episodes while in the classroom.
Surviving Mr. Shuster are his two daughters; Theresa Brechtelsbauer and husband Leroy of Harrison, Michigan and Mary Ellen Shuster of Gladwin, Michigan, two granddaughters; Staci and Stephanie Brechtelsbauer, two great-grandchildren: Dyllan Echelbarger and Sapphire Kreutzer, two sisters; Joy Wood of The Villages of Florida and Bonney DuMond of Albuquerque, New Mexico, one sister-in-law, Ruth Blakely and husband Gerald of Alva, Florida, one brother-in-law, Albert “Butch” Gallup of Saginaw, Michigan, plus many nieces, nephews, extended family and his beloved pets, Lucky the dog and Samantha, Shadow and Rastus the cats. Jim also was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters-in-law; Carol Williamson and Mary Lou Gallup and two brothers-in-law; Ron Williamson and Ed Wood.
Celebration of Life services honoring Mr. Shuster will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. from Farwell United Methodist Church, 281 East Ohio Street, Farwell with Pastor Ray Francis officiating. A time of gathering to share memories and stories will be held Friday, September 8, 2023 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Clark-Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, 165 W. Oak St., Harrison and on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at Farwell United Methodist Church. Inurnment will be in St. Cecilia Catholic Cemetery, Clare, immediately following services. Memorial gifts in memory of Mr. Shuster may be considered to: Farwell United Methodist Church, Farwell. To share an online memory or condolence with Jim’s family, please visit: www.clarkstocking.com. Arrangements and care of Mr. Shuster and his family are entrusted with Clark-Stocking Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, 165 West Oak Street, Harrison(989)539-7810.