The family of James "Jim" Ricco of Benzonia, MI announces his passing, and invites all who knew him to remember him here.
What follows is not the whole story, but a thread of it.
Parenthood is the slow work of love. James did it well.
James "Jim" Ricco: of Frankfort, passed away on April 24, 2026, at his home. He was born in Detroit, MI to Dorothy and Joseph Pengelly on February 8, 1954.
Flint was home for Jim growing up but the family enjoyed coming to Herring Lake to spend summers with his cousins fishing and swimming. His father Joseph passed away when Jim was fourteen, later in 1969 his family would permanently move to Northern Michigan, at which time Jim's mother Dorothy married Monte Ricco. Monte would legally adopt Jim and bought him his first snowmobile, that's all it took, you couldn't keep him off of it.
Jim's high school years were spent at Frankfort High School playing Panther Football for Jim Buzzell, something to this day he says he will never forget. Jim graduated in 1972 and would marry Monica Codden and together they had two children Christa and Michael.
In 1974, he would start working for Koch Asphalt in Elberta, traveling for them to the various terminals throughout the United States. Jim would retire permanently in 2022 but found it hard to sit still. Soon, he would take on the maintenance position at the A&W and later found himself helping the Gilbert Family build their new home. Still, he had time for his "granddogs" helping his daughter and son in law when they would go out of town.
Jim will be remembered as a guy who kept busy helping family and friends, enjoyed going to basketball and football games or just sitting in his "man shed." But the one thing that brought him the most enjoyment was watching Rexo and Loki swim, they never quit.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy Ricco, father Joseph Pengelly and step-father Monte Ricco.
Jim is survived by his wife Monica and two very special pets Piper and Millie, daughter Christa (Ricco) Ketz and her husband Mark Ketz and son Michael Ricco.
There will be a Celebration of Life at the Elberta Life Saving Station on July 19th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Those wishing to leave a memorial in Jim's name may do so to the Benzie Co. K9 Unit c/o Benzie County Sheriff's Department. Arrangements with Jowett Family Funeral Home.
