James E. Schroeder, 82, of Gillett, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2015, following a long battle with cancer. Jim was born in Isaar on Feb. 9, 1933, to the late W.B. and Marie Schroeder.
Jim went to Pulaski High School and, at age 16, became the state’s youngest licensed cheese maker at the time, working in his dad’s cheese factory at Frazer Corners. Jim was drafted in 1953 and served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955, including a tour in Korea. Jim married his wife, Erma, of 61 years, while stationed at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, on April 24, 1954.
Jim was a self-employed truck driver most of his life, hauling cream for seven years, milk for 28 years and concrete products another seven years. Jim also spent the majority of his life as a public servant, serving on the Gillett School Board, church council, Town of Gillett Fire Department for 18 years (10 of those years as fire chief), and several years as a town of Gillett and Oconto County supervisor.
Jim had also been a director on the Wisconsin State Milk Haulers Association for 25 years, with 12 of those years as that organization’s president, and was also a longtime member of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. Jim and Erma served as grand marshals of Gillett’s 2008 July Fourth celebration.
Jim enjoyed his later years puttering on his farm, gardening and plowing snow for his neighbors. He was always fond of horses and owned them most of his life. Jim was always up for a road trip and saw much of the country with Erma. Polka music resonated throughout his house at all times of the day, and he read every book that Louis L’Amour ever wrote. Jim was known for his straight talk and calling it as he saw it. He was larger than life and will be missed beyond words.
Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Erma; three sons, Jerry (Gail) Schroeder and Denny (Mary) Schroeder, both of Oconto Falls, and Randy Schroeder, of Markesan; two daughters, Dawn (Ed) Giamarino, of Seymour, and Diane (Jamie) Hubbard, of Suamico; one brother, Howard (Dawn) Schroeder, of Green Bay; six grandchildren, Kim (Brent) Gruetzmacher, of Suring, Eric (fiancé Teralyn) Schroeder, of Hilbert, Alissa (Jerry) Schuchardt, of Fort Benning, Georgia, Ben Giamarino, of Chicago, Matt Giamarino, of Seymour, Nick Hubbard, of Suamico; and four great-grandchildren, Grant, Cole, Gwenny and Geanie.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter; sister, Joan Krause, and her husband, Bob, of Seymour; and sister-in-law, Joanne Schroeder, of Green Bay.
Visitation was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Gillett on Friday, May 8, from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation continued at the church Saturday from 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. with Jim’s niece, Pastor Karin Derenne, and Pastor Harvey Jeffers presiding.
Jim was laid to rest in Wanderer’s Rest Cemetery with full military rites. A luncheon was served at the church following the internment.
Gruetzmacher Funeral Home in Suring is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.gruetzmacherfuneralhome.com.
Jim’s family especially wants to thank everybody at the MeadowLands Assisted Living Center in Oconto Falls, the staff at Bellin Hospital, and family friends Donny Hinkfuss and Tom Cota for all their help these past months.
In lieu of flowers, Erma would like any memorials to be donated to the Gillett Area Ambulance Service.
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