Jean "Mickey" James Wilson was born on February 27, 1928, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. When asked why his name was spelled "Jean" instead of "Gene," he always said his father, Valentine changed his name as a teenager "to a girl's name" to prevent him from going into the military before he was legally able. In any event, his father signed the papers so Jean could serve in the Navy during World War II. He fought in the South Pacific as a coxswain of an air-sea rescue boat, where his job was to save pilots who crashed into the ocean. He came home and married Fae Priscilla Lahti.

Jean played minor league baseball in Wisconsin, was an avid fisherman, and a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers. Jean retired to the Florida Keys, where he lived just steps away from his boat named The James Boys, for the middle name he passed on to his son Rande James and grandsons Matthew James and Patrick James.

"Grandpa Mickey" always had lots of jokes, loved to sing, and played patty cake with his three great-granddaughters. He loved going out for breakfast and would order a scrambled egg, toast, or mashed potatoes no matter where he went. Jean had numerous friends in the community where he lived in Islamorada, Florida, including Kathleen, who affectionately called him "Pops."

Jean was famous for riding out the hurricanes in the 30 years he lived on Plantation Key. Finally, in 2017 during Hurricane Irma, he evacuated and lost his home. He moved to Connecticut with his son Rande and his partner Eautha Munkelwitz who cared for him.

Jean passed away on December 10, 2022, in Wilton, Connecticut. He is preceded in death by his son Rande and daughter Kim. He was almost 95 years old and always said, "I'm like cheese. The older I get, the better I get."

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