James Anthony Rice, 81, of Tomah passed away Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, surrounded by his loving family at the Serenity House in Tomah.
He was born June 16, 1935, to McCann P. and Kathryn E. (Welch) Rice in Wilton. Jim was a member of the Wilton High School graduating class of 1953. After completing a semester at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force. Jim was stationed at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. Before his deployment to Itazuke Air Force Base in Japan, where he proudly served his country with the 35th Fighter Bombers Squad, Jim was united in marriage to Joyce E. Stark in La Crosse on Oct. 25, 1954.
For many years, Jim worked for Wisconsin Power and Light Company as a consumer services representative in Tomah, and in 1977, he was transferred to the Omro, Wis., office. Shortly thereafter, Jim started his career with Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, working as a district manager in the Oshkosh office, retiring in 1997 after dedicating more than 18 years in the insurance sales industry. In 1998, Jim and Joyce relocated back to Tomah.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself in being a faithful and devoted husband, father, grandfather who took great pride in being an active and supportive man in the communities in which he resided. In his younger years, Jim enjoyed playing and umpiring baseball games, camping with his family, and coaching the football and basketball teams for St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School. He especially enjoyed coaching his four boys throughout the years.
Jim also was a member of Toastmasters International of Oshkosh and Tomah, a pack leader for the Cub Scouts, and served as a Monroe County Supervisor for 12 years. These are just a few of the many organizations to which Jim volunteered his time. He was a faithful and devoted member of Queen of the Apostles Parish and served on the Knights of Columbus as a Third-Degree Knight. He was an avid and enthusiastic Packer fan who took great pride in being a Packer stockholder and attended many games as a season ticketholder.
In his spare time, Jim especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. The hunting shanty he built on “the 160” outside of Wilton was a special place he dearly loved to spend time with his family to enjoy the simple things in life.
His positive mental attitude coupled with an Irishman’s enthusiasm gave him a zest for living life to its fullest. He will be remembered for his love of his family, his work ethic, his kind and generous heart and his ability to see the beauty in God’s many blessings.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joyce of Tomah; his children, Teresa Marie Callinicos of Denver, Elizabeth Kaye Pierce of Phoenix, James Anthony II (Melissa) Rice of Metairie, La., Timothy Charles (Jill) Rice of Weehawken, N.J,, Daniel McCann Rice of Oshkosh, and Todd Michael (Karla) Rice of Neenah, Wis.; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, John (Cindy) Rice of Verona, Wis., and Pat (Marie) Rice of Tomah; a sister-in-law, Betty McKenna of Dighton, Mass.; a brother-in-law, John Lepien of Milwaukee; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Debra Ann Jensen; a granddaughter, Kathryn Anne “Katie” Jensen; three brothers, Thomas, Hugh and Joseph; and three sisters, Mary Miller, Kathryn Irlbeck and Theresa Lepien.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Queen of the Apostles Parish at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tomah. Father Clayton Elmhorst will officiate. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Wilton, with military honors.
A parish rosary will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, will a visitation to follow until 7 p.m. Visitation also will be at the church on Thursday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
