James Springer, of Poulsbo, died on Oct. 1 at home. He was 62.

He was born in Seattle on Nov. 7, 1945 to Howard Douglas Springer and Muriel Daggett Springer.

He attended first grade in Michigan; after the family moved to Bainbridge, he attended grade school and high school on the island.

Jim was involved in many different pursuits. As a teenager, he went fishing with his stepfather, Albert Olson.

In 1962, Jim traveled to Iquique, Chile, where his father was employed.

At that time, since he wasn’t finished with his schooling, he took correspondence courses through the University of Nebraska and worked for the shipbuilding company his father managed.

After returning to the U.S., he married Devenie Harris and became a father to Steve. After the couple divorced, Jim married Sandy Haley on Nov. 24, 1991. They, too, were divorced.

Jim apprenticed at the Mercedes factory as an auto mechanic after returning from Chile.

Later, he owned a garage in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, Grease Palace, a shop for Volkswagen, Mercedes and Porsche autos.

In Bellingham, Jim owned Alley Auto, specializing in the same brands

Jim was known to many of his friends as “Biggy.” In fact, there was a cafe in Bellingham known as Biggy’s Lunchbox.

At one time in his life, Jim worked on the Alaska pipeline and for a ready-mix concrete supplier in Fairbanks, Alaska.

He also worked for his friend Dick Gardner and Hidden Brick Co. a brick-building business in Vancouver, Wash.

Jim’s hobby was miniature trains, and he had various “HO” and “N” gauge layouts. He spent lots of time at train shops and shows.

When he returned to the Bainbridge Island area in the early 1990s, he started a home remodeling service, Springer Remodeling and Repair, which he ran until his death.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Muriel Olson, on Nov. 19, 2004.

He is survived by his son, Steve Springer and two grandchildren, Steel and Sierra of Whidbey Island; his brother, Roy (Kathy) Springer of Hermiston, Ore.; three half brothers, Jerry and Bill Springer of Poulsbo and Don Springer of Bainbridge Island; and a half sister, Teresa Brown, of Santa Rosa, Calif.

He is also survived by his father, Howard, and stepmother, Jean, of Poulsbo.

Jim’s special friend, Diane, was there for him when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Eagle Hall in Poulsbo, 4230 Lincoln Rd, about three miles from Sate Route 305.

Arrangements are by Cook Family Funeral Home. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.