James C. Farmer, 65, of Janesville died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz., of complications from leukemia.
The son of Curtis and Violet (Kewit) Farmer, he was born in Sparta on June 27, 1946. He married Jeanne K. Quade on the 18th hole of Oak Ridge on July 16, 1999.
Jim had been employed by General Motors and was Superintendent in Chassis and Hard Trim for 36 years, retiring in 2000. Following his retirement, Jim enjoyed being outside and landscaping his lawn so much that he and his buddy, Bill Needham, started B&J Trimming.
Golf was his passion. He founded and ran the GM Retirees Golf League and couples’ leagues at Oak Ridge Golf Course. Jim was a board member at Parklinks in Mesa, Ariz., where he also ran a couples’ golf league.
He liked to entertain family and friends with karaoke, shrimp boils, and fish frys.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Farmer; four children, Jay (Tara) Farmer of Onalaska, Wis., and Jeana (Brad Thom) Farmer, Kristy (Michael) Colborn and Karie (Jason Cleasby) Kelly, all of Janesville; five grandchildren, Mason, Kameron, Larissa, Nolan and Cole James; a sister, Bev Schroeder of Chandler, Ariz.; two aunts, Ardella Gerke and Gladys Kewit, both of Tomah; and Jody Farmer of Janesville, the mother of his two children, Jay and Jeana.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lila Sommerfeldt.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Schneider Apfel Schneider & Schneider Funeral Home & Crematory, Janesville, with Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Milton Lawns Memorial Park. A visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Lasting memorials may be made to Autism Speaks. For online condolences and a registry, go to www.schneiderfuneraldirectors.com.
