James P. Vredenburg
1936 - 2017

James (Jimmy) Pedden Vredenburg, 80, of Pensacola, Florida passed Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Consulate Healthcare of Pensacola. Jimmy was born in Detroit, Michigan to Dale and Helen Vredenburg and was the brother to Jack (deceased), Clark (deceased), Patricia (deceased) and Bob.

He spent his youth in the Grand Rapids area where his family owned and operated a dairy farm in Cannonsburg, Michigan. Jimmy graduated from Rockford High School and Michigan State University and Vanderbilt University. Mr. Vredenburg left college and enlisted in the United States Navy where he came to serve at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

It was while he was stationed in Pensacola that he met JoAnn Rabb (divorced) and later had four children, three daughters and one son. Upon his retirement from the Navy, Jimmy pursued a successful career in the insurance industry where he was recognized as a top sales agent on several occasions. After working years as an insurance agent, Jimmy chose a different direction in life and became a restaurant owner/operator and caterer.

Although Jimmy operated multiple restaurants in the area, he was most known for his ownership in the restaurant EJs, located in the downtown historic district, with his partner, Erwin Penniman. While operating EJs, Jimmy established a successful catering business and became widely recognized throughout the community as Sir James the Caterer. One of the first to establish a fully equipped mobile kitchen to provide catering services on-site for his clients, Jimmy could be found around town catering at local festivals, private gatherings or for corporate outings. Although hired as the caterer for many events, Sir James the Caterer often times became the entertainment as well in that he enjoyed large gatherings of people and was eager to please his clients and their guests.

While Jimmy gained much enjoyment from meeting and conversing with new and different types of people, his interests also included visiting local garage and rummage sales as well as wood working.

Surviving members of the James Pedden Vredenburg family includes three daughters, Tammy (Lewis) Bohannon and their two children (Katie & Elizabeth); Kim Vaughn and her three children (Lynn, Dustin and Daniel); Crissy Englehart and her child (JoAnna) and one son, Bruce (Lucy) Vredenburg and their three children (Hunter, Kailey and Zachary). In addition, Mr. Vredenburg had nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

A graveside burial service will be performed at Barrancas National Cemetery on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 12:30 pm. The funeral procession will commence at 11:30 am at the Trahan Family Funeral Home at 419 Yoakum Court in Pensacola, Florida. Reception to follow at McGuire’s.