James Waidner Rinker

Jim Rinker was an intelligent, loyal and loving young man, a young man going full throttle through life. “Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races,” he often said, quoting Carroll Shelby. That was Jim, no flash, just dash, the fun-loving gear around which so many of us turned. He was a loving son, brother, and friend, and a young man taken too soon. Yet his life was a gift to us, a gift we will cherish and remember forever.

Jim’s story began on a cold winter day in 1987, in the bustling city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, which was rocked by the Iran-Contra and televangelist Jim Bakker scandals. Yet on January 13, 1987, Lowell and Kathleen (Waidner) Rinker had a reason to celebrate, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named James Waidner Rinker, after his late uncle James Waidner II.

“Jimmy” as he was called as a kid, was a very welcome and eagerly anticipated addition to the family, joining his big sisters Jenny and Paige. Jim’s mom cared for the home and the kids, and his dad worked at Western Michigan University in the Business & Finance division of the University’s administration.

Jimmy was a very happy baby, and his big sisters doted on their little brother, who was so much better than a baby doll! He was a very active little boy, walking at 12 months. Once he learned to climb in and out of his crib, there was no stopping him.

Even at an early age, Jimmy fell in love with anything on wheels. He had a Little Tykes Kozee Coupe he scooted around the house in, modifying it into a bulldozer (with a clothes basket on the front), emulating the heavy equipment he so loved to watch tearing apart and rebuilding the street in front of his house. He transformed his coupe into a police car by adding sirens (red and blue bowls) on the top. He was always very creative, and it wouldn’t be the last set of wheels he modified!

As he grew into a young man, and the Jimmy gave way to just Jim, he found new outlets for his creativity, especially the beautiful drawings he made (usually of cars). His intelligence bloomed to include a sharp wit and great sense of humor; Jim developed into a reserved, thoughtful and respectful young man in everything he did. He never gave his parents a hard time.

Jim also grew up exceptionally close to his sisters, and the three of them enjoyed good-naturedly teasing each other. They especially enjoyed teasing him about one of their favorite family stories. When Jim was just 10 years old, and very much wanting to act adult, he attempted to order off a restaurant menu for himself. “Can you please tell me,” he so properly asked the server, “what is included in ‘All Beverages?’ ” That memory always brings a smile to all of their faces.

The family was always very close-knit, and they did much together. As a family they vacationed in places like Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Disney World, Hilton Head, and upstate New York (to visit family friends, Father Joe Girzone and Sister Dorothy Ederer). Every Sunday, they piled into the car and went to St. Thomas More Student Parish, where Jim grew up attending. Another part of the family Jim was close to was the family dog, Josie, who he could get to do tricks that no one else ever could… balancing a Milkbone on her nose and catching it before it hit the ground was one her specialties.

Jim was very close to his family, but he made friends easily, too. He enjoyed T-ball, being a member of the Cub Scouts, and soccer, which he played starting at age five all the way through high school. In middle school, he began a paper route to earn spending money for his ever growing list of hobbies, which at the time included skateboarding, in-line skating and extreme biking.

Jim attended Kalamazoo Public Schools, and went to Loy Norrix High School, where he enjoyed a successful high school soccer career and made many close friends. He was a great student, too, earning a 3.87 GPA. And while he loved athletics and excelled at his academics, Jim’s first true love was always for automobiles.

When he was first learning to drive, he loved going for long drives with his mom – and her Corvette. She would let him drive, and the two would just cruise, a special time of one-on-one, when they discussed their hopes and dreams, watching the clouds and the miles roll by.

Eventually, he began crawling under the hood of his own car, and his favorite pastime became squeezing every ounce of power — and torque — he could from his beloved wheels. Together with his friend Steve, he loved to spend the day “making boost in the Bonnie” (his ’92 and later ’96 Pontiac Bonnevilles). Maybe from driving his mom’s Corvette, he had a special love for General Motors, and even got a GM tattoo on his shoulder, while mom and dad were away in Hawaii! His sisters relied on him with their car issues, too, and had him on speed-dial.

After he graduated from Loy Norrix in 2005, Jim became a student employee in the Physical Plant at Western Michigan University, where he loved working alongside the tradespeople, soaking up all the knowledge he could. He loved working with his hands, and the satisfaction he received at the end of the day.

Through his job at the Physical Plant, Jim was also able to get involved in project management. He especially enjoyed this, and ultimately it is what convinced him to continue his education. He realized he would need a degree to land a career best suited to him. After beginning in the engineering curriculum at WMU, he later enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, starting in the welding tech program. Eventually he decided to pursue a general business degree, so he enrolled at Western, where he was in his sophomore year.

Even as a full-time student, Jim made plenty of time for fun, friends and family. He enjoyed working on his car, going mountain biking, staying in shape, working on his “farmer’s tan” and of course, relaxing.

Most of all, he enjoyed being close to his friends and family, always understanding that his relationships were first and foremost in his life, the gear around which everything should turn.

Sadly, Jim died very unexpectedly on Monday, June 30, 2008, at the age of 21.

Jim was a special young man, a man so intelligent, so loyal, and so loving. He had a love for cars, understanding how all the gears worked. Jim was the same with the people close to him, understanding that everything revolves around our family and friends, the gear we tune our heart by. Jim was taken too soon, but his love and his memory lives on in all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Jim, view his Life Story film and visit with his family and friends while sharing some light refreshments on Friday from 4:00 – 9:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday 10:30 AM at St. Thomas More Student Parish. Following the mass, food and fellowship will be shared in the parish hall.

Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents; and by his uncle, James Waidner II. Surviving are his parents, Lowell and Kathy Rinker of Kalamazoo; two sisters: Jenny Rinker of Washington D.C. and Paige Rinker of Hanover, NH; aunts and uncles: Judy and Fred Farrer of Kalamazoo, Mary and Mike Wanroy of Grand Rapids, Robin and Randy Clapper of Ravenna, Tedde Rinker and Larry Roberts of San Francisco, CA, Pat and Karen Rinker of Lansing, Mike and Marsha Rinker of Grand Rapids; and many cousins. Please visit Jim’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a memory or photo, sign his memory book or make a memorial contribution to Sunseeker Solar Car C/O WMU Foundation or St. Thomas More Student Parish.