In Memory of James Lee Routzahn: Your Support Needed

~He’s not heavy…He’s my brother.~

My name is Shannon Routzahn and I started this go-fund me page to help pay for expenses of cremation and other expenses that have occurred since my brother’s passing.

James Lee Routzahn passed peacefully in his sleep on the early morning of 9/11. He was 45 years old and a graduate of Suttons Bay High school.

It was hard to watch my strong brother wither away before our eyes. My Mom stood by him during this trying time and struggled while having to go out of home to work to make ends meet when he could no longer work.

James was a proud man and was very embarrassed about his mental health decline. Staying away from his friends and loved ones.

James began to suffer mentally because he could not work and bills started to accumulate. He chose to move home with my mother so he could heal.

The years that followed James suffered from no sense of smell and when he could smell, everything smelled rotten.

This increased his anxiety and at times could only drink and not hold down food.

Mom could not cook in the house without him getting sick. He could not stand the smell of meat cooking. He threw up daily and tried to hide all these symptoms from my Mom.

Towards the end his legs began to swell and he became increasing weak. He stopped eating and could only hold down liquids. He aspirated daily in his nose and lungs.

The night before he passed, he came into the store I worked at and bought two 5 hour energy drinks, he wanted to stay up to watch the presidential debate. I warned him about them. In his weakened state it seems his heart stopped and was found in a peaceful position.

Unfortunately, my Mom found him that day when she checked on him because he was sleeping late. It was very, very traumatic for her.

Im asking for donations to cover the costs of the cremation and other loose ends. My mother is on disability and I am paycheck to paycheck. I’ve never asked for help before like this, but we are overwhelmed and over our heads with this one.

James was all about making America Great Again and did not get a chance to vote. Please VOTE! It doesn’t matter who you vote for. Vote because we want to fight for our right for freedom from Terrorists and War.

He was so sick of seeing dying children on TV because of war. He wanted world peace and the Good Old Days to restore.

James loved God and America. In God we trust!