Jim was born in 1945 to James and Evalyn of Nekoosa. He joined the United States Navy in 1966 and was trained as a Hospital Corpsman. He was attached to the Marine Corp for the majority of his four years of service,serving at Camp La June, Camp Pendleton Ca and Annapolis MD. He served 12 months in Vietnam, from February 1968 until February 1969 with the 2nd Battalion 27th Marines Company G receiving a Purple Heart. He was a scoutmaster, soccer coach, proud member of the Masonic Lodge and church member. He was a long time employee of Milwaukee Insurance Company and retired in January of 2005. He passed away in August of 2018 and is forever loved by his wife, Sharon, children Laura, Michael and Nicholas and their families, his sister, Patricia and nieces and nephews.