James "Jim" Lyle Utsler
James (Jim) Lyle Utsler of Chelsea, MI, quietly passed away on Saturday, September 12, after a long- and well-lived life. Born in Dexter, MI, on July 9, 1931, to Lyle and Beulah (Betty) Utsler. He served along with his twin brother Jerry in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, retired from a management position at General Motors and subsequently became a real estate agent serving the Chelsea/Dexter area.
Jim never failed to find adventure in life, whether going on an African safari; zip-lining in Costa Rica; piloting planes and sailing boats; daring rickety train rides in Mexico (a trip he often ruefully joked about); exploring Europe with his wife; rebuilding his and Janet’s cottage on Joslin Lake; cycling on backroads; cutting up while playing euchre; barking out “Go Blue!” during U-M football games (and razzing his MSU family and friends when the Wolverines beat the Spartans); or sneaking off to a dive bar for a cold beer. It was moments such as these—both large and small—that he enjoyed so much.