Mr. James Bernard Alfredson, age 77, of Pentwater, MI, passed away Monday, January 5, 2015. He was born February 11, 1937, in East Lansing, MI, son of Bernard and Pearline (Haslip) Alfredson. Jim was employed by the State of Michigan as an editor retiring in 1992. He graduated from Michigan State University & attended Washington University. Jim married Patricia Neal on June 11, 1976 in East Lansing, MI.
James was a man of many talents. He was a woodworker and enjoyed making furniture. He spent time reading books and was a published author. James served in many civic clubs including, the Pentwater Village Council, Secretary for the Pentwater Service Club, the Pentwater Village Planning Commission and the Pentwater Historical Society. Jim became interested in magic as a small boy after seeing a talented colleague of his father's perform. He was helpfully mentored by this chap and in the early years, it earned him much needed college tuition. In his teens, the "collecting bug" bit, and he started to accumulate books and advertising materials of magicians. Eventually, this lead to an interest in magic magazines, resulting in a collection of them, and with his pal George Daily, he became a co-compiler of "A Bibliography of Conjuring Periodicals in English: 1791-1983". This book has become the standard work on the subject. In 1986 some collector pals started a biennial gathering sponsored by NEMCA in Salem, Massachusetts; He attended this event, and every subsequent gathering after that and had a ball. Little did he imagine that he would one day be the honored guest at their fourteenth fracas.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Alfredson of Pentwater, MI; brother, Kenneth Alfredson of East Lansing, MI; step- daughters, Linda Watson of Pentwater, MI, Barbara (Mark) Snyder of Owosso, MI, Patricia Rumrill of Owosso, MI, and Elaine (Steve) Reed of Owosso, MI; step-son, Jerry (Vicki) Nasser of Hart, MI; seventeen step- grandchildren and fourteen step- great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Carolyn Alfredson.

The Memorial Service for Mr. Alfredson will be Saturday, January 10, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. at the King Funeral Home in Hart with Father Sam Morrison officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. The family requests that any memorials be directed to the Pentwater Library, 402 East Park Street, Pentwater, MI 49449 or the Pentwater Historical Society, 85 South Rutledge / P.O. Box 54, Pentwater, MI 49449.
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