Obit: Fitzmaurice, James ‘Jim’ (1931 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Fitzmaurice, Steies, Bjerke   

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) March 9, 2011

Fitzmaurice, James ‘Jim’ (9 April 1931 - 6 March 2011)

Jim Fitzmaurice, 79, of Neillsville died Sunday, March 6, 2011, at his residence on Fourth Street in Neillsville.

James Fitzmaurice was born April 9, 1931, in Humbird, the son of John D. and Hannah G. (Steies) Fitzmaurice. He attended school in Humbird and then worked at the Humbird Canning Factory. In 1953, Jim began working at the Nelson Muffler Factory in Neillsville.  He worked there 43 years. During this time he occasionally would help at the cranberry marsh in Pray when they needed him, and he also mowed the grass and helped with the upkeep at the Tufts’ Mansion in Neillsville.  He retired from Nelson in 1996 and then enjoyed going for his morning coffee and visiting with the other retirees at Donna’s Cozy Kitchen.

Jim was an avid deer hunter and he also enjoyed tinkering with automobiles in his spare time.

He is survived by three sons, Jeff (Lana) Fitzmaurice, Rick (Gretchen) Fitzmaurice and Randy Fitzmaurice, all of Neillsville; four grandchildren, Jesse, Jeremy, Danae and Nikki; eight great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Edith Fitzmaurice of Humbird; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers, Tom, David, Gerald "Bun", Jake and Rusty.

Memorial services for Jim will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.  Pastor Douglas Bjerke will officiate.  Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Jim’s family with funeral arrangements.