James Alan Zapolnik, infant son of Jennifer Lynn Strickland Zapolnik and Anthony “Tony” Robert Zapolnik of Hopkins, was born at 7:30 p.m. July 30, at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids. During his brief hour-and-a-half of life, baby James was surrounded by family, baptized and dedicated to Jesus.He passed away in the arms of his mother at 9:30 p.m. as she sang to him. James weighed 2 pounds and 3 ounces, was 14 inches long and had strawberry blonde hair. Though his time on earth was short, his impact was immense and he was loved beyond measure.
Besides his parents, James is survived by his maternal grandparents, Alan (Evanel) Strickland, and Lea Dianne Strickland; paternal grandparents, Robert “Bob” and Brenda Zapolnik; brothers, Merek Zapolnik and Jensen Zapolnik; sister, Avalee Zapolnik; several uncles, aunts, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal great grandparents, and one aunt, Lindsey Chinn.
A private celebration of James’ life will take place at a later date.
The dedication of his family to ensure a safe arrival for James has resulted in many days of lost wages and mounting hospital bills. A GoFundMe memorial fundraiser has been established to assist baby James’ parents in meeting their financial obligations. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family via GoFundMe, Venmo or PayPal.
