James W. Omdoll, Jr., businessman and life-long resident of Palmyra went home to be with the Lord on March 5, 2015.
Jim was born on March 13, 1940, in Milwaukee to James W. Omdoll, Sr. and Geraldine M. (Finke) Omdoll (both deceased).
Jim graduated from Palmyra High School in 1958, and later married Sandra (Doepke) Brown in 1961. They had four children, Cindy (Jeff) Vukodinovich, of Eagle, Lori (Kevin) Eaton, of Appleton, Jeffrey Omdoll, of Whitewater, and Scott Omdoll of Eagle. In 1990, Jim married Jacky Dickrell, who had two children, Andrea and Jason.
Jim’s business career began when he was still in high school, working in the family hardware store, the Gamble Store, stocking shelves and cleaning. Later he was put in charge of the lawn and garden tractor department and also did appliance repair for customers. When Jim turned eighteen, he sold cars for Thayer and Ketterhagen Ford and drove truck for Ed Lampsa at night.
In 1970, Jim and his wife Sandy began making artificial fishing lures basement, and started the Katchmore Bait Company. Shortly afterwards, A-1 Creative Packaging Corporation was founded to attractively and efficiently package the lures. The Omdolls also opened the A-1 Laudromat and A-1 Kettle Moraine Power, where they sold Yamaha motorcycles and snowmobiles. In 1975, Jim sold more snowmobiles than any other dealership in Wisconsin and had the opportunity to visit Yamaha’s operations in Japan.
A-1 Creative Packaging was the company that continued to grow over the years, occupying four buildings in Palmyra. In the 1990s, Jim and his wife Jacky, along with Jim’s sons Jeffrey and Scott, ran the business, and later Jim and Jacky started the Creative Plastics Corporation on Bluff Street in Palmyra. Jim’s businesses have turned out more than a hundred products for dozens of companies, large and small.
Jim most recently served as the CEO of A-1 Creative Packaging, with his son Scott as President of the company. Jim was a member of the Palmyra State Bank Board of Directors and was very active in the Palmyra Kiwanis organization for many years. He was also a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, the Palmyra Historical Society and the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce.
Other survivors include a brother, Paul Omdoll of Naples, Fla.; sisters, Janet G. Kelly of Lake Geneva, and Ruth Ann Mueller of Palmyra; along with eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many other dear friends.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Haase Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home, 320 W. Main St., Palmyra and on Saturday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 313 E. Main St. Palmyra, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. Rev. Steven M.D. Blyth will officiate with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery in Palmyra.
Haase Lockwood and Associates Funeral Home of Palmyra is assisting the family. Sign the online guest book at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com.
