Obituary of James Gilbert Wolfgram

JAMES G. WOLFGRAM age 82 of Fort Atkinson, died peacefully at his home amongst his loving family members on March 4, 2015. He is now attending to his heavenly garden instead of his earthly one he loved every year. The birds are singing with joy and Jim can name them all. He loved to sit in his backyard amongst his vegetable garden, his flowers and the birds. Seeing God's Creation all around him. Jim was born on September 21, 1932 in Milford, Wisconsin to Walter and Esmeralda "Polly" (Davis) Wolfgram. Jim attended Sanborn Country School, rural Fort Atkinson and Fort Atkinson High School. He served 2 years in the United States Army with 17 months in Korea in the Signal Corps. He was in the 8th Army 10th Mountain Division, this born his love for his Country. He married Mary Joyce Kreklow in 1955 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Jefferson. This year would have marked 60 years. Upon returning from Korea he started employment at Alber Mill Company/Carnation Company/Nestle-Purina, retiring in 1994 as a pull pack operator. He was a very active member of St. Mark's Church in Jefferson. Over the years Jim served on the Church Council, Property Committee, and often was found in the kitchen helping with the cooking or giving directions to others. Health made him retire from lawn care in 2012. Over the years he enjoyed his church family making many lifelong friends he treasured. Starting his time of giving to young people he served as a leader for Fort Fours-4-H, teaching gardening and woodworking. He served as a Cub Master from 1969-1975 for Cub Pack 147 at St. Mark's Church. He continued in the Scouting family working as the liaison between the Pack and the Church. He also then became Scout Master for Troop 137 at the Fort Congregational Church for several years. He also served as the Unit Commissioner for Tomahawks and the Assistant District Commissioner for the Tomahawk District and moved into District Commissioner. During his Scout Master years he went with the troop to Two Bear Scout Reservation at Weyerhaeuser Wisconsin, Hoard Cutis Camp and other outings. He later attended Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. His motto was "continued learning and serving others". He continued his involvement as a member of the Eagle Scout Board of Review until he retired from scouting. During this time he earned the highest award in Scouting "The Silver Beaver Award." He was a member of the American Legion Post 166-Paul Frank Florine. He served as Post Commander for 3 years also serving as Chaplain before and after for several years. He also was a member of the Honor Guard retiring his position late in 2014. In his deteriorating health he continued working with funeral directors filling honor guard positions for fellow Veterans funeral services. He was also a member of the Edwin Frohmader Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1879 of Fort Atkinson, serving as Historian. He also served as Surgeon for the VFW. Currently his grandson Derek Floerke is the Post Commander. During his years as a member of the American Legion in Fort Atkinson he was asked and became a member of the 40 and 8. His hobbies also included fishing and hunting. He continued to deer hunt with his wife, son and grandsons in Bagley, Wisconsin, being taken to the stand on a gator until only the last few years. He was always a willing baby-sitter for his grandchildren and the chief taxi cab driver for all their events when needed. He and Mary would be found cheering at their sporting events, show choir, FFA, Scouting or Pioneer events. He and Mary also spent many years from when their children were young taking grandchildren and then themselves camping to several State Parks around Wisconsin. Their favorite was Wyalusing State Park at Bagley WI. They were members of the Friends of Wyalusing where Jim contributed by making thousands of fire starters to sell in the park. He will be deeply missed by his family; Wife Mary Wolfgram of Fort Atkinson Daughters; Debra (Norman) Floerke of Fort Atkinson, Penny (special friend Steve Leggett) Mepham of Janesville, Son; Jim (special friend Micky Key) Wolfgram Jr. of Fort Atkinson, 7 Grandchildren; Emily (Andy) Harris of Coon Rapids MN, Sgt Derek (special friend Lindsey Murphy) Floerke of Fort Atkinson, Ethan Floerke of Lake Mills, Tyler Floerke and Dane Floerke, of Fort Atkinson, Clayton Wolfgram of Watertown, and Wyatt Wolfgram of Fort Atkinson. He would have been great grandfather for the first time this summer. He is preceded in death by his parents, close cousins Vernon Davis and Donald Hotter. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday March 7, 2015 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church 324 South Sanborn Avenue in Jefferson with the Rev. David Zandt officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the North Oakland Cemetery in the Town of Oakland. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Schneider-Michaelis funeral Home in Jefferson and then again on Saturday morning from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Those wishing to express sympathy through donations may direct them to St. Mark's Lutheran Church or to Jefferson Rainbow Hospice. The family wished to express many thanks to Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson, Visiting Angels of Fort Atkinson. Your compassion, friendship and care were excellent, and visits and prayers and scripture readings and songs from Rev. David Zandt of St. Mark's. This I believe; A hundred years from now it will not matter, what my bank account was the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a child. Visit www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence or light a candle in his memory.