James was born in Belvidere, Il and entered the U.S Army in 1965. He served his country in Vietnam from 1965 until 1966. In 1967, he married Lois Klein in Nekoosa, WI. James was a cranberry grower at Bennett Cranberry and Dempze Cranberry. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and camping. James loved his family and his role as husband, father and grandfather. James passed away on April 8th, 2021. Missing him are his wife of 53 years, Lois, children: Rick, Tina, Randy, Ranee, their spouses and his grandchildren and brothers and sisters.