James Michael Ames

Full Obituary Coming Soon



Published in the Toledo Blade 4/12/2026:

James Michael Ames, 81, passed away peacefully of natural causes in the early morning of March 30, 2026. His wife of 45 years, Carola Petra Ames, was at home with him.

Known as "Mike" to everyone, Michael Ames was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania on February 15, 1945 to Katherine Greenfield Ames and James White Ames. In 1947 the family moved to the Toledo area, where he grew up in Trilby.

The eldest of four brothers, Mike's early childhood was upended by rheumatic fever, seriously limiting his athletic pursuits, but also engendering a decades-long love of books and music-and in later years, a passion and unique talent for art.

Attending Whitmer High School, Mike was involved in numerous activities including the locally-renowned Whitmer Circus. He also had a leading role in his senior play, Inherit the Wind, portraying a high school teacher prosecuted for teaching the theory of evolution. Mike graduated from Whitmer in 1963 and then attended the University of Toledo.

After college, Mike worked for several years in law enforcement with the Toledo Police and Lucas County Sheriff's Office. On one occasion as an officer he suffered a stabbing while breaking up an altercation. He later switched to warehouse logistics, working for Seaway Food Town and building lasting friendships with his fellow warehousemen.

After a brief first marriage, Mike met and married his life partner, Carola Sternheim Wilson, a native of Germany, in 1981. In wedding Carola, Mike also became stepdad to two young daughters, Pamela and Kristine, discovering a new role in life as the head of a family. If anything pleased him even more, it was becoming a grandfather-and being called "Opa".

In 2017, Mike and Carola relocated to Maumee to be closer to family. There he enjoyed living in their 1930s Tudor-style home, just blocks away from the kids and grandkids. He spent his final days enjoying Maumee's small-town lifestyle, doing his daily workouts, and quietly tending to his art.

Mike was preceded in death by his father and mother. He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver Carola, brothers Craig (Karen), Steven, and Patrick (Elizabeth) Ames, daughters Pamela Wilson Law and Kristine Wilson Ludwig, son-in-law Kenneth Ludwig, grandchildren Karmann (Andrew), Kendall, and Karl (Trinity) Ludwig, nephew Thomas Ames, stepmom Mary Jo Ames, brother-in-law Frank (Uta) Sternheim, and cousin Susan (Carl) Lindborg.

Mike's life will be celebrated in a private family memorial.