James “Jim” Robert John, 73, of Toledo, Ohio, passed peacefully on July 6, 2015 at University of Michigan Hospital. He succumbed to thyroid cancer after a brave and long five-year battle. He was born April 23, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to James A. and Margaret John.

An avid Air Force veteran, Jim then spent 40-plus years in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry. He began his career with the Champion Spark Plug Co. in Toledo and moved on to Genuine Parts Co. (NAPA), working in Los Angeles, California, then on to Triad Systems Corp. in Livermore, California. Jim spent the last 22 years of his career at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. He was the Chair of the Aftermarket Management Program at Northwood until 2010, when he was named Director of Automotive Program Development and Recruiting for the university.

Jim had a passion for the aftermarket and his students and led many of these students to their own careers in the automotive aftermarket. In 2009, he received the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award for his work.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Denise John; daughters, Kathy (David) Wallick and Allison (Randy) Osterloo; four grandchildren, Evy, Jack and George Osterloo and Ryan James Wallick; sister, Maureen Keslar; brother, Robert John. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Megan John.

The family will receive guests from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2015 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo (419-381-1900). The Celebration of Life and Sharing of Memories will begin at Noon.

The family requests memorial donations be made to: University of the Aftermarket Foundation’s “Marilyn Schwartz Memorial Scholarship Fund”, 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1300, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.