James Lester Bever, 68, of Wilton died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Tomah.
He was born Aug. 27, 1946, to Lester and Hilda (Herricks) Bever in Sparta. He was a member of the Royall High School graduating class of 1964. He was united in marriage to Donna Hull. He was united in marriage to Diane Kennedy. He was united in marriage to Joy Preuss on June 14, 1989, at Fountain Lutheran Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served during the Vietnam War. Jim served in his local community as a member of the Wilton Town Board and serving as the chairman this past year, and for the last three years running the Town of Wilton’s recycling program. He worked at Fort McCoy, retiring after 30 years. James and Joy worked the second-generation farm in the town of Wilton. Everyone knew him as a very outgoing and social person, and if he saw you, he made sure to stop and have a conversation. James was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, camping, hunting, and elk hunting trips out West, to Colorado and Utah. He was a proud father and grandfather; he will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Joy of Wilton; two sons, Josh Bever of Holmen and Dan Bever of Tomah; three daughters, Melissa (Jason) Sasseen of Houston, Texas, Jennifer Bever-Groves of Houston, Texas, and Jaime (special friend Josh Von Haden) Bever of Camp Douglas; a brother, Bill (Judy) Bever of Janesville; four sisters, Marion (Bob) Sullivan of Janesville, Donna Short of Wilton, Luanne (Duane) Bever-Denter of Camp Douglas, and Doris Ashley of Rochester, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Devin and Jarett Groves and Brock Bever; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Arnie Bever.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Fountain Lutheran Church, W10815 Church Road, Kendall, WI 54638. Pastor Wesley Dunbar will officiate. Military honors will be presented by the Hanson-Stark-Leith-Paeth Wilton American Legion Post 508. Relatives and friends are invited to call at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah on Monday from 4–8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home in Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
