James Stephen Netterstrom, known to all who loved him as Jim, passed away on July 17, 2026, peacefully with his family by his side at his home in Cocoa Beach, Florida. He is survived by his sister Susan Cameron, his children David (spouse, Sherri), Paul (spouse Cathy) and Karen (spouse Dickie) with 8 grandchildren (Crystal, Nick, Josh, Bradley, Peyton, Davis, Seth and Aaron) and 4 great grandchildren (Raegan, Jacque, Caroline and Gemma).

Jim was born on May 23, 1934, in Madison, Wisconsin to Ralph and Florence Netterstrom. As a child, his family later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Jim shared many stories of growing up in that area, such as taking the ferry into the city, delivering blueprints on bikes up the steep streets of San Francisco, being sent to summer camp with his sister Sue (Susan) and helping rebuild a cabin in the Sierra Nevada Mountain as a teen. In high school, he lettered in swimming and learned how to use a printing press at Tamalpais High School.

Due to government work in the post WWII era, the Netterstrom family later relocated to Washington, D.C. where Jim continued working with the printing press that included the official printing of 1953 Inauguration Committee invitation of President Eisenhower and Vice-President Richard Nixon, which he smartly grabbed a few for himself to keep. Soon after, Jim enlisted in the Army and served in Alaska, where he later shared stories of feeding fish to bears until it was full and went away, so he could finally bring his own fish home. Upon return of service, Jim courted and married his first wife, Elizabeth Lowell “Betty” and settled into starting a business called Ship Shape Maintenance Company. His first job was cleaning the floors of a beauty salon and later sharing the story of not making any money because he underbid the job.

As a young man, Jim was always drawn and pulled towards anything with an engine, which became quite a hobby with many stories and trophies as a Porsche of America Race Team driver. As an avid collector of Porsche cars, some of which later became rare museum pieces (long after he sold them for much less). His need for garage space for tinkering landed him and budding family to Potomac, Maryland, where his three children (Dave, Paul and Karen) could roam the woods and climb all over the old Porsches, including...a yet to be restored 1954 Allard J2X. Racing as a hobby had to temporarily take a back seat as Ship Shape Maintenance Company developed with nearly 1000 employees and marquee contracts including NBC studios and parts of the Smithsonian. It was certainly a steep learning curve along the way as a self-made businessman that didn’t start so great with that first beauty salon.

Jim enjoyed long weekends with his family at a property known as “Cherryfields” located in Southern Maryland on the St. Mary’s river where he’d call himself, “a weekend farmer”, but like his first beauty salon contract, his crops didn’t fare well either. However, many fond memories of fishing, boating, getting stung by jellyfish and pinched by blue crabs were all part of life on the Chesapeake.

As life moved forward as it does, Jim later courted and married his second wife, Audrey and moved to Arnold, Maryland. Audrey had three daughters from a previous marriage (Wanda, Donna and Debi). As commuting in Washington, D.C. was winding down with the subsequent sale of the business, Jim enjoyed his newly restored Allard and showed it frequently. He did some occasional vintage racing for fun and his name continues to run deep into racing culture that has been carried forward by his son, Paul.

Jim’s automotive knowledge is exceeded by few, but his reach of friends was far and wide. He was well traveled into his 90’s as his son David always made sure he had all accommodations. He had a sharp wit, a huge smile and a bellowing voice that was fully intact until the day he passed. His most memorable comment to his daughter occurred a few days before passing, he said “well, this was a dumb idea’ (referencing going home hospice). Jim Netterstrom lived a full life, had a huge personality and presence and will be greatly missed. Although Jim had his final lap with the checkered flag in hand, he did not wish to celebrate at the end, but to go quietly. Comments and memories are welcomed and encouraged.