James (Jim) Albert Hetzel, age 62 of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away on Thursday, December 9, 2010 after battling pancreatic cancer for several months.  Jim was born in Reedsburg, Wisconsin to Alois and Clara Hetzel.  He graduated from St. Luke’s High School, Plain, Wisconsin in 1966.  In 1978 he completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  He spent thirty-four years working for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, which included twenty-five years as a Health Services Supervisor.  He then worked for Michigan Ability Partners as the WISH Program Team Leader.  He supervised numerous employees over the years and, according to some of those employees, was considered “the best supervisor they ever had.”

Jim enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  Some of these friendships have lasted for over thirty years.  He especially appreciated the family vacations with siblings.

Jim is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Hetzel-Gaynor, and a son, Eric (Lindsey) Hetzel-Gaynor, a grandson, Carson James, expected in 2011, and a very special friend, Mary Wenners.  Also survived by brothers and sisters:  Val Hetzel, J “Sonnie” Hetzel, Betty (Merlyn) Brockman, Sister Marlene Hetzel, Carrie (Jerome) Ballweg, Francis Hetzel, Bob (Dottie) Hetzel, Pat (Wally) Miller, Bernice (Jim) Grota, Dave Hetzel, and Tom Hetzel and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Clara and Alois Hetzel, and a brother, Ted Hetzel.

Jim was loved by many and will be terribly missed by all who knew him.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org).  Services will be held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at St. Mary Student Parish, 331 Thompson St. Ann Arbor 48104.  The family will receive visitors beginning at 1:00 PM.  A Mass in Memory of James will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 18, 2010 with visitation starting at 9:30 AM at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Plain, Wisconsin. 

A guest book is available at obits.mlive.com/obituaries/annarbor.  Special thanks to Arbor Hospice for the loving care shown to Jim and his family and friends.