A native Detroiter, James attended Redford High School before receiving his degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959. He worked in the U-M Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering for 47 years. As a Senior Research Associate Engineer, he was known for his remarkable ability to come up with unusual and creative solutions to what seemed like impossible problems. Over the decades, his involvement in research, teaching, consulting, and publications benefited people inside and outside the College of Engineering. His sharp mind and witty humor were with him until he passed. James was preceded in death by his beloved wife Sandra (Nicolson) Foulke and brother David. Throughout his life he was devoted to his family. He is survived by his daughters, Jane (David) Heetderks and Karen (Kevin) Larson; grandchildren, Evan (Bowen Dong), Ryan, and Alaina Heetderks, and Sarah and Eric Larson. A celebration of life will be held at First United Methodist Church, 120 S. State, Ann Arbor at 12:30 p.m. on October 25, 2025. Please visit niefuneralhomes.com for the complete obituary.
To all the human factors research students at GG Brown lab, just trying to keep their research on schedule, James Foulke was a Godsend. He was our Mr. Wizard. I was pleased to see how little his countenance has changed over the 50 years since I last saw him. James Foulke was a real engineer. Howard Estes I&OE ’73