Walter Jim Bell

Husband. Father. Community and business leader.

In Memory of Walter Jim Bell

Walter Jim Bell passed peacefully on Monday morning, September 23rd, 2024. He was born on February 21st, 1931 to Walter and Marguerite (Schuck) Bell in Battle Creek, Michigan. His greatest joy was his marriage to Ella Joy (McKay) Bell, whom he first met at the age of 12. They fell in love and were married on June 19, 1954. From that moment on, they were dedicated to building a family and home together in Augusta, Michigan, where they lived for over sixty years. In June 2024, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary together with their family and friends.

Jim, as he’s known to most of his friends and family, graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and would later attend various institutions to expand his credentials in banking and finance. Driven by an early desire to support his community and country, Jim proudly served as Sergeant 1st Class with the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 during the American rebuilding efforts following World War II in Zel Am See, Austria. Upon his return home to Battle Creek, Jim entered a banking career that lasted for over three decades; at the time he retired from Comerica Bank in Battle Creek in 1987, he was Chairman and President. Although hardworking and ambitious, he maintained that honesty and integrity were integral to his professional achievements.

After retirement, he was active as an officer and board member for several financial and banking organizations. Always eager to be involved with the local business community, Jim was the first President of the BC/CAL/KAL Inland Port Development Corporation, a member of Battle Creek Unlimited, the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce, the Battle Creek Downtown Development, and Battle Creek United Way.

In his “retirement,” Jim began to offer sales and finance consulting services, an endeavor that took him on travels to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia and Central America. He then became the owner of a financial company dedicated to empowering and uplifting his clients that might not have otherwise found support in obtaining financial services. A lifelong learner, Jim continued to pursue education and learning opportunities throughout his life. After retiring from the financial industry for a second time in the 2000s, he remained an active community member and advisor to several local organizations, including the Calhoun County Health Improvement Program.

Although his strong work ethic was evident by his professional accomplishments, he will be most remembered by his family and friends for his warmth, loyalty, and his ability to listen and empathize with others. With a lifelong love of the outdoors and travel, Jim took many trips throughout his lifetime, including frequent fishing trips to Canada and Alaska with friends and relatives. Boating on Lake Michigan and camping trips around the Great Lakes were adventures he shared with his family. His wanderlust also took him further afield, to the deserts of the Middle East, the inside of the Great Pyramids of Egypt, to the Great Wall of China and the tulip fields of the Netherlands. Always one to embrace change and never shying from technology, in his later years Jim kept in close touch with all his children and grandchildren, some of whom were scattered throughout the world. He enjoyed keeping up to date with their lives, interests and accomplishments.

His entrepreneurial spirit frequently lent itself to inventive and creative endeavors, including assembling a log cabin from fallen trees on his property at which he would later enjoy entertaining friends and family. His grandchildren fondly remember him giving tours of his woods on a vintage red tractor. He always had an interesting or quirky story to tell about his day to day adventures. He happily shared his insights and knowledge with others, but also knew that sometimes the best knowledge of all could be gained by encouraging, supporting and uplifting those he was with.

Jim is lovingly remembered and survived by his wife, Ella Joy, and his children, Ella Jane (Stephen) Greenman, Jim (Angela) Bell, Julie (Paul) DenUyl and Janet (Jason) Rogers. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren, Amanda Greenman, Laura Briley, Jeff Greenman, Leslie Marvin, Paul DenUyl, James DenUyl, Daniel Bell, John DenUyl, and Jack Rogers, as well as nine great-grandchildren.

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