James Henry Hundertmark

James Henry Hundertmark, 80, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2023. He was surrounded by loved ones when he took his last breath and returned to his heavenly home.  

Jim, “The Hunt,” was born on October 22, 1943 to Eugene Marion Hundertmark and Lois Catherine Hanna, in Baltimore, Maryland. Along with his older sister, JoAnn, Jim was raised in a loving family on a farm in Reisterstown, MD, in a house built by his father. Though his mother was an only child, his father was one of 11 children, so Jim and JoAnn grew up surrounded by a large and lively extended family (several of whom lived on the same road as them). Jim’s parents taught him the importance of hard work, providing for your family, and raised him to be the honest, loyal, loving, and respectful man that he was.

Jim had many fond memories of his childhood. Being only 15 months apart, he and his sister JoAnn were incredibly close. She was a big part of his life and was very protective of him; the first to come to his defense both at home and at school. One of his fondest memories was of the summers they spent together on their grandfather, Charlie Hanna’s, farm in Virginia. There, Jim developed his great love of the outdoors: hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. He loved to share funny stories about his Grandfather Hanna, and vividly remembers being used as his “tester” to see if the horses he was breaking were ready to be ridden. Jim said he was thrown off of so many horses but Grandpa Hanna would tell him to just “get back on!”

Jim attended Franklin High School in Reisterstown, MD, and graduated in the class of 1961. Jim was a prankster and comedian and really just enjoyed making people laugh. Often, his practical jokes would land him in trouble both at home and at school; he was appropriately nominated “Most Humorous” in his graduating Class. He also had a passion for sports. In High School, he was on the JV Baseball team, the Varsity Basketball team, and the Varsity Golf team. His zeal and determination to improve at any sport he attempted, eventually led to his career as a Golf Professional. Upon graduating, Jim attended Baltimore Junior College for two years with the intention of pursuing a career in golf.

Not long into his career, he had an overnight stay at his mother’s hospital. She instructed a cute little red-head named Phyllis Cass (along with the other nurses on shift), to go say hello to her tall, dark, and handsome son. Thus began the story of Phyllis and Jim. Jim was immediately smitten with the beautiful and vivacious Phyllis. He would drive miles back and forth between New York and Maryland to take her on dates. On their third date, he proclaimed he would marry her one day, and he did. On January 3rd 1970, Jim and Phyllis were married in Hampstead, MD. Jim’s golf career took them to Long Island, NY. From a shack on the grounds of North Shore Country Club, to their first apartment in Douglaston, Queens, to comfortable homes on Long Island, they lived in New York for over 35 years and were blessed with six beautiful children.

Jim had a very successful Professional Golf career. He received his Met PGA Pro Card in 1967 and toured on the PGA circuit for 10 years, while working as an Assistant Golf Pro at North Shore Country Club. As more children came along, Jim wanted to spend more time with his family and took the Head Pro job at Plandome Country Club in the summer of 1976. He ran their Golf Program, Junior Golf Program, and Pro Shop for 31 years. He was extremely hardworking and would often work 12 hour days, 7 days a week, to support his family.  

On the PGA circuit, Jim had several placements in the Top 10 and Top 5. He played on several continents and won a few tournaments: a Pro-Am in Scotland and a Metropolitan PGA Pro-AM Championship in the US. He qualified for Club National events at least 3 times, qualified for a National Senior Event, and had 7 career hole-in-ones. In retirement, he continued to play golf as long as he was physically able and taught lessons and clinics at Schneiter’s Riverside Golf Course in Ogden, UT. A pro to the end, he loved to help others improve their game and gave lessons to those around him, often free of charge, until the last few months of his life. He was an incredible instructor.

Jim enjoyed riding motorcycles with his wife, a child, or a dog on the back of his bike. He also loved driving fast sports cars from the 1965 Corvette, which he sold when Phyllis told him it wasn’t a family car, to the Porsche he drove in later years. He loved music and often sang around the house and in the car. There wasn’t a sport he didn’t love to watch or play. He was an avid animal lover with a special spot in his heart for dogs. Throughout his married life, there was seldom a time when there weren’t at least a few dogs, cats, and/or birds running around his home. Upon his retirement in Utah, Jim rekindled his love of hunting, archery, and paddle sports, becoming a serious player in the Ogden Pickle-ball scene and a fierce competitor in archery competitions. 

However, his family was the single most important thing to him. Jim was a devoted son who served and cared for his parents from afar, often driving back and forth between New York and Maryland to see that their needs were being met. He was a loving father, who raised his children with a firm but loving hand, encouraging them to work hard, play hard, and cheering them on in pursuit of their dreams. He was a devoted husband who treasured his wife and made time with her a priority. Each winter without fail, he would take her out of the cold to explore a tropical locale. He opened his home to his mother-in-law so she could have the care and companionship she needed in her old age. And upon his retirement, relocated to Utah when Phyllis advised she wanted to live closer to her twin sister. He was an adoring grandfather to 13 grandchildren, who were the delight of his golden years. As their Pop-Pop, he could always be counted on to make them laugh, hug them close, and teach them how to wield a golf club, bow, or pickle-ball paddle. He never showed up without a pack of m&m’s in his hand, for each grandchild. As his darling wife struggled through years of decline due to Alzheimer’s, Jim was ever by her side. He spent several years lovingly caring for all of her needs and, when they were too great for him to meet alone, spent each day by her side in the facility charged with her care. Even when battling serious health complications of his own, Jim fought to be by Phyllis’ side. When she passed away on October 11, 2023, Jim was right beside her, holding her hand. Not to be separated from her for long, Jim passed away just 13 days later.

Jim was preceded in death by his sister (JoAnn Hundertmark), his father (Eugene Marion Hundertmark), his mother (Lois Catherine Hanna), and his beloved wife (Phyllis Ruth Cass). He is survived by his six children; James (Silvia) Hundertmark, Gene (Alison) Hundertmark, JoAnn Hundertmark, Barbara (Cory) Doyle, Patricia (Richard) Thomas, Jason (Andrea) Hundertmark, and thirteen beautiful grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 11:00am, at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 W 5600 S. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00am - 10:45am, directly preceding the funeral. Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services, by scrolling to the bottom of this obituary page. 

Flowers may be sent to Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary.

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