Jim Fiebig, 60

James Arthur Fiebig, with his beloved family by his side, entered into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Cape Carteret, N.C.
Jim was born Oct. 3, 1956, in Hillsdale, Mich., to Arthur M. and Ila L. Fiebig.
Jim attended school in Jonesville, Mich. He graduated the University of Michigan in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in music composition.
Jim owned and managed Fiebig Jewelers Inc. in Sturgis, Mich. In 1981, he met and married JoAnn Nettleman. While in Sturgis, Jim was prominent in civic activities, including the Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Sturgis Association, Chamber of Commerce, Council of the Arts and Sturgis Rotary Club, of which he served as secretary and president. Jim was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he taught Sunday school and served as usher.
Passionate about travel and the beauty of colored gemstones around the world, he traveled to Brazil, Tanzania, Kenya, Zanzibar, South Africa and Madagascar. In 2005, Jim and JoAnn sold Fiebig Jewelers and began guiding other jewelry professionals to gemstone opportunities in Madagascar. Clients included the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, LA County Natural History Museum and the BBC. He worked with GemsTV in the UK and U.S., Zultanite Gems LLC, Jewelry Television and Parle’ Gemstones, lecturing and writing extensively about colored gemstone marketing in the jewelry industry. In 2007, Jim and JoAnn moved to Cape Carteret, N.C., and established a new home base.
Jim accepted a 2011 offer to become sales manager of Josephs Jewelers in West Des Moines, Iowa. While with Josephs, Jim was awarded a coveted Fellowship in the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015, he and JoAnn returned to their North Carolina residence.
Jim’s father, Art, passed away in 2009. He is survived by his mother, Ila; his wife, JoAnn; children Chad and Jared; and grandchildren Alaina and James Arthur.
Memorial services for James A. Fiebig will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Pastor Dan Johnson officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to Eagle Funeral Home in Jonesville.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial contribution to the James A. Fiebig Music and Arts Award, c/o Hillsdale County Community Foundation, to be given to a graduating senior student at Jonesville High School.