Obituaries

 

James L. Genrich

WINTER/PORTAGE -- James L. Genrich, 68, of Winter, WI passed away January 4, 2014, after being recently diagnosed with gastric cancer.

He was born in Portage, WI on August 20, 1945 to Laverne and Shirley (Raymond) Genrich.  He was the oldest of four boys.  In his late teens he worked with his father for several years driving milk truck.  On February 27, 1965 he and former wife, Carol (Klabunde) Genrich-Dugan were united in marriage and had three beautiful children. 

At the age of 21 he joined the Wisconsin State Patrol and remained working with them until an accident in 1987 caused him to retire from the patrol in 1989.  He attempted to return to work with the Wisconsin State Gaming Commission until he had to retire from that position in 1997.

After retirement, his life-long dream was to live on a lake.  In 2002, his dream became reality when he purchased a home in Winter, WI on Barber Lake.  He enjoyed fishing on a daily basis and taking his early evening pontoon rides around the lake nightly.

Loving life in the north-country, he got involved with many organizations.  He was President of the Winter Lakes Alliance and most proud of his accomplishments in being able to yearly have the Kid’s Fishing Tournament.  He was a member of the Southern Sawyer County Sportsman Club; member of the Winter, WI Cemetery Board; member of the Sawyer County Lakes Forum of Hayward, WI.  He was associated with the Board for Walleye’s for Northwest Wisconsin out of Hayward, WI. He was active with Wounded Warrior Organization; Chairman of the Fireman’s Board in Winter, WI; very active with the Calvary Lutheran Church; met monthly in Spooner, WI with State Patrol retiree’s and his most recent achievement was being elected Town Chairman of Winter which he held the position for the last 3 ½ years. 

Survivors include his daughter, Kimberly (Randel) Weihert, their sons Zachery and Cody of Pardeeville, WI; his sons, James (Pamela) Genrich, Jr., their children, Hunter, Joshua, Eva and Sara of Elgin, IL, and Brian (Lisa) Genrich of Hubbleton, WI; brothers, Raymond (Diane) of Cross Plains, WI and Larry (Gail) of Madison, WI; sister-in-law, Kathy Genrich of Portage, WI and former wife, Carol Genrich-Dugan; aunts, nieces, nephews and many cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, WI with a private family memorial service after. A Christian memorial service will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church in Draper, WI on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)