Obit: France, James John (1955 - 2020)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: France, Derks, Verdegan, Hughes, Tomsyck, Ogle, Vang

----Source: Plombon Funeral Home (Stanley, Clark Co., WI) 10/23/2020

France, James Richard (23 February 1955 – 24 September 2020)

James John France, 65 of Stanley, died suddenly, on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at Sacred Heart Hospital-Eau Claire from natural causes.

He was born on February 23, 1955 at Victory Memorial Hospital-Stanley to the late Wilbur and Leona (Derks) France. Jim grew up on the family farm north of Stanley and graduated from Stanley-Boyd High in 1973. He married Kathleen Webb on August 23, 1975 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church-Thorp. After graduating from high school, Jim worked about five years in construction before returning to the family farm where he and Kathy milked cows until the spring of 2001. In the fall of that year, they started custom heifer raising and forage bagging where they continued to work side by side. Jim was an avid deer hunter looking forward to the nine-day gun hunting season each fall. He also enjoyed ATVing in recent years. During his down-time, he enjoyed watching Westerns, and his favorite football teams – the Packers and the Badgers. Jim was a family man, loved farming and the great outdoors, and a man of God. He and Kathy were active members of Epiphany Lutheran Church-Stanley from 1983 to the church closing in 2019. Jim served on the church counsel for many years serving in roles of trustee, vice-president, and president.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kathy of Stanley, his children and grandchildren, Kristin (Michael) Verdegan and their children, Carter, Carissa and Vanessa of Glen Flora, Wyatt (Laura) France and their son Alexander of Norristown, PA and Jenna (Hesston) Hughes of Stanley and three sisters, Sandra France of Eau Claire, Julia (Michael) Tomsyck of Thorp and Pamela (Paul) Ogle of Withee, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Ronald.

A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church-Thorp with Pastor Dan Vang officiating. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. until time of service Thursday at the church. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Holy Family Cemetery-Stanley. Plombon Funeral Service-Stanley assisted the family with arrangements.