James Joseph DeSautelle (Jim) died peacefully on Sunday, November 20th, 2022, in Auburn Hills, MI at the age of 69. He was in the company of his family, Felice, Nikki, and Joe.

Jim loved animals, bicycle riding, music (especially guitar music), traveling with family to beautiful outdoor locations, swimming when it was way too cold, exploring beaches, hiking, enjoying good food, making up silly songs, and was an avid enthusiast of nature and the environment.

Born in Ironwood, Michigan on May 1, 1953, he went on to live in the DC area before settling in Rochester Hills, MI. He earned his BS with honors in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1977, and later earned his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Oakland University in 2007, while working full time with a family.

Jim began and finished his mechanical engineer career with the US Govt, while serving the public sector in between. Jim worked with lasers (United States Naval Ordnance Station Indian Head), rocket propulsion (Atlantic Research Corp), airbags (TRW, Takata and Temic), truck clamp design and manufacture (Torca), safety (Chrysler), and light armored vehicles (CAMBER and TACOM).

From the shores of Lake Superior, to Yellowstone, to Yosemite, to the Hudson Valley, to the uncompromised view of the stars in the Texas desert, to the local trails he walked daily and helped maintain, to sunning himself in his front yard, and many, many other places in between, he fed his senses with the beauty of the natural world.

He was preceded in death by his parents Frances Ann (née Jurasin) and James Edward DeSautelle. He is survived by wife, Felice (née Boissenin); daughter, Nicole; son, Joseph; brother, John (Connie); father-in-law Bill Boissenin; sister-in-law Cynthia (Patrick) Albee; and brother-in-law Eugene Boissenin.

Donations can be made to the Michigan Sierra Club or an environmental charity of your choice. Plant some milkweed seeds for the butterflies.

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Walk with me to the water when it comes my time.

What we say will not matter, just keep your hand in mine.

I’ll cross the water by myself, I know that’s what I must do.

But the chilling sting won’t be felt because I’ve walked with you.

–Nellie Keller

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