Jordan B. Tatter

WATERVLIET- Jordan Bradley Tatter, 65, of Watervliet, died unexpectedly Saturday, January 18, 2003, at Community Hospital in Watervliet. Jordan was recognized statewide and nationally as a leader in agriculture, natural resources, and improving state government services. His limber mind, joy in bringing people together, and attention to detail resulted in distinguished service in a number of public and private arenas. Jordan was born on July 16, 1937, in Grinnell, Iowa. He spent his first years in Paducah, Kentucky, St. Joseph, and Denver, Colorado before moving permanently to Camp Watervliet, his parents?, Dr. Henry W. Tatter and Mrs. Velda Jordan Tatter, summer camp for girls. He graduated from Watervliet High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He completed both his bachelors and masters degrees in entomology, botany, and plant pathology from Michigan State University?s Honors College inaugural class in three years and lettered in soccer where the team was undefeated all three years he played and national champions two of the three. He was a member of the Sigma Xi scientific honor society. He began his career as an apple grower and an agricultural consultant, co-founding Prescription Farming in Eau Claire. He then worked as a district agent for fruit crops with the Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service. Among his proudest accomplishments was helping to build Hanson Cold Storage (formerly Southern Michigan Cold Storage) into one of the largest and most successful refrigerated warehousing corporations in the United States, initially as a board member and finally as President and Chief Executive Officer. He was appointed to the Michigan Agriculture Commission in 1991 by Governor John Engler. He was elected as Chairman of the Commission four times in the ten year period he served. He served two years on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. He represented the Michigan Department of Agriculture on numerous task forces and advisory committees including: chairing a committee on the eradication of bovine tuberculosis, serving on statewide advisory committee on fruit and vegetable production in Michigan, and the Michigan Food Safety Alliance. He was later appointed to the Seccia Commission. Peter Seccia, the former ambassador to Italy, headed this commission whose mandate was to improve state services to Michigan Citizens. Tatter chaired the committee on improving State Services to Rural Citizens. He also served on the Governor?s Act 51 Commission. This body made recommendations to the legislature on how to better use state transportation funds. He served on the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Stakeholder Advisory Board and on the board of the MSU Foundation. He was a charter member of the Michigan State University Extension and Experiment Station Council. Jordan was President of the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses. He was a member of the Michigan Food Processing Association and the Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association. He served on a number of corporate boards and was a member of the board of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. He was proud to be elected Chair for four of his six years on the Board of the Detroit Branch of the United States Federal Reserve Bank. He was a member of the Watervliet School Board. Jordan was an active member of the Berrien County Republican Party. He was also a proud member of the Watervliet Lions Club and board member of Sarett Nature Center. Jordan was a man of many interests and talents. An avid outdoorsman, he went deer or bear hunting in northern Michigan every November, usually successfully. He was an accomplished gold panner. He was proud of his two holes in one and his score of 64 at Paw Paw Lake Golf Club and of his service on the Board of Directors at Point O?Woods Country Club. He will be sorely missed by his wife Mary, his sons Scott, sound engineer for the rock band Korn, and Stephen, a neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University, his grandchildren Jordan, Emmett, Zachary, Grace, Abigail, James, and John, other members of his family, the organizations he served devotedly, his co-workers and many friends. His absence will be especially felt by those friends in Bainbridge Township whom he met almost every weekday morning at Radom Farm Supplies. He was preceded in death by his sister Jeannie Tatter Lakey. Jordie will be remembered as a larger-than-life man who loved his work, the outdoors, Michigan?s agricultural roots, and Michigan State University, and who always had a kind word and a solution to any challenge large or small. Visitation will be Tuesday January 21, from 4 to 8 pm at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. There will be a Celebration of Life service Wednesday, 2 pm, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in St. Joseph and a reception afterward. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Sarett Nature Center or the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. We invite you to send a condolence message in the Family Guestbook at www.starks-menchinger.com