James Kenneth Vliet

James Kenneth Vliet, of Swartz Creek, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026 at Hurley Medical Center. He was 75 years old.

Born September 2, 1950 in Flint, he was the son of James and Doris (Welsh) Vliet. James was a veteran of the US Army where he served as a paratrooper. Following his service, James returned home and earned not only his Real Estate Brokers License but his Builder’s license as well and held both of those for over 55 years. He married Betty (Wilcher) Vliet on November 2, 1974 and together they celebrated 51 years together this past November. Community and people were a very large part of his life whether through various clubs and boards he served on throughout his life such as being a member of the Gaines Township Board of Review, or various others in the community. James was a proud member of the Swartz Creek American Legion Post 294 Honor Guard. He loved his family and cherished those moments spent together, he was loved by a wide network of family and friends and colleagues in his life and loved to lend a hand to anyone that needed it.

James is survived by his wife, Betty Vliet; three daughters Christine Lintz and her husband Jeremy, Andrea McNulty and her fiancé Ryan and Megan Vliet and her fiancé Mark; three grandchildren, Alex Fortinberry, Max McNulty and Myleigh McNulty; his father James Vliet; one sister Annette Gasperosky and her husband Larry as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother Doris Vliet; three brothers, Timothy, Danny and David Vliet; a sister in law Carol Vliet and a niece Crystal.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 12:00pm at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek, MI 48473. Interment will follow at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly at 2:30pm. There will be visitation on Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 3-8pm at the funeral home with a walk-through by the Swartz Creek Honor Guard at 7pm. There will also be an hour of visiting prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Swartz Creek American Legion Post #294 Honor Guard, 3440 Morrish Road, Swartz Creek, MI 48473. Please visit www.sharpfuneralhomes.com to sign the guestbook and leave a memory.