Obit: Venzke, James W. (1932 - 2005)

Contact:  Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Neumann, Jurgemeyer, Schmidt, Wilson, DeSoto, Schauer, Denzin, Tobolski, Hargraves, Tischendorf

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Fri, Sep 30, 2005

Venzke, James W. (15 March 1922 - 29 Sept. 2005)

COLBY - James W. Venzke, 73, of Colby, peacefully went to his eternal home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 2005, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colby, with the Rev. Mark G. Neumann officiating. Burial will take place at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Milan.

Family and friends are invited to visitation from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Zion Lutheran Church at 301 N. Second Street in Colby. There will also be visitation just prior to the funeral service Monday.

Maurina/Community Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

James was born March 15, 1932, in Marathon County to Emil and Lydia (nee Jurgemeyer) Venzke of Milan. He graduated from Abbotsford, Wis. High School in 1950. He joined the Air Force and served in Korea from 1953 to 1956. He was a jet aircraft mechanic and did basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He returned to Colby and operated a farm and began working as a plumber. On Oct. 19, 1957, he married Audrey Schmidt in Athens. After finishing his apprenticeship and completing courses, he received his master plumber certification. He started his own plumbing business in 1993 and enjoyed working on construction projects and helping people. He retired in 1998 due to a spinal cord injury as the result of an auto accident.

Jim was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. During his earlier years, he was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, splitting firewood and taking care of the family farm. In recent years, he enjoyed spending time with his four children and their spouses, his eight grandchildren, overseeing gardening and plumbing projects, and playing sheepshead on the computer. He was actively involved in his church and previously served as an Elder and as President of Zion Lutheran School Board. As often as possible, he assisted with church functions and maintenance projects. His strong spiritual beliefs were inspirational to everyone who came in touch with him.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey; two sons and two daughters, including his son Philip (wife, Susan) of Stevens Point, his son Paul (wife, Michelle) of Tomahawk; his daughter Kathy Wilson (husband, Brian) of Chaska, Minn., and his daughter, Esther DeSoto (husband, Ken) of North Tonawanda, N.Y.; and his grandchildren, Anna, Miriam, Luke, Caleb, Noah, Emily, Timothy and Joel; as well as his brothers, Ed (wife, Evelyn) Venzke of Hubertus and George (wife, Eve) Venzke of Wild Rose; and sister, Stella Schauer (husband, Don) and sister Ruby Denzin of Abbotsford and sister Lois Tobolski of Wauwatosa and sister Elva Hargraves of Racine; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert Venzke and Benno Venzke; and sister, Pearl Tischendorf.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church. The family gratefully acknowledges the care provided by the physicians and staff at St. Joseph's Hospital.