JAMES WENZEL

James “Jim” Wenzel, 100, died peacefully on Jan. 13, 2018, at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, with his loving wife, Dorothy, at his side.

Jim served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II as a second lieutenant. He was a navigator who flew missions on bombers over the rail yards in Japan.

He, with his first wife, Anne, owned and operated Jim’s Tavern in East Troy from 1946 to 1969. She preceded him in death.

Jim was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting, ice fishing, golf, and baseball. He was elected to the Land O Lakes Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. He was also a big fan of the Brewers, Bucks, and Packers.

Jim loved he Northwoods and eventually moved to St. Germain where he enjoyed his last 45 years.

Jim dedicated much of his life to service through the Lions Club. He was a life member of he East Troy Lions Club and a member of the Stevens Point and St. Germain Lion Clubs. He was the district governor in 1962-63 when the convention was in France and Wisconsin had its first state pin.

Jim was appointed state secretary of Wisconsin in 1969. He served in that capacity as well as International staff representative until his retirement in 1983. During that period, Wisconsin added more than 200 new Lions Clubs and grew in membership from 13,000 to 24,000 members.

Jim received many state and district awards as well as Key attendance awards. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow and received three International President’s Awards as well as Lions International’s highest award, the Ambassador of Good Will.

Jim married Dorothy Newbold in 1994. They enjoyed golfing, gardening, and outings to the casino along with feeding deer and relaxing.

He is survived by his wife; children, Timothy (Jan) Wenzel, Mary Pocius and John (Kay) Wenzel; stepchildren, Larry (Dee) Newbold and Sandra Branfort; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was further preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond “Roundy” and Gerald “Jigs/Fan” Wenzel.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1975 Beulah Ave., East Troy. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Burial, with military honors, will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Memorials to either the Wisconsin Lions Foundation 3834 County A, Rosholt, WI 54473 or Leader Dog for the Blind P.O. Box 5000, Rochester, MI 48307.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Seasons of Life Hospice for their loving care of Jim and support of the family.

Bolger Funeral and Cremation Services, Woodruff, assisted the family. To leave online condolences, go to www.bolgerfuneral.com.