JAMES M. BRAYER

JAMES M. BRAYER

James Michael Brayer, 72, transitioned to his heavenly home from his earthly one in Green Valley, AZ, on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 with his wife and children by his side. He courageously finished his battle with mesothelioma after a diagnosis in April of this year.

Jim was born on June 17, 1945, in Milwaukee, WI, and grew up in the Central Wisconsin town of Marshfield, where he attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Columbus High School in 1963. He then earned his BA in journalism from the University of WI- Madison in 1967. He married the love of his life, Cathy Weichelt, on Aug. 24, 1968, and shared a joy-filled adventure with her for just under 50 years.

Jim proudly served in Vietnam with the Army's 25th Infantry in 1968-69. He wrote for the Stars & Stripes newspaper. Following his service, Jim and Cathy first lived in Evanston, Il, where he worked for Montgomery-Ward in the advertising department. They then moved back to Marshfield, where he was employed with the Marshfield News-Herald. In 1975, he and three business partners launched Agri-View, a very successful statewide agricultural newspaper. Jim and Cathy became born-again Christians in 1973, and faithfully attended Calvary Bible Church of Marshfield for many years. He served as a board member, AWANA leader, and youth group leader. He also loved and served on the board of Crescent Lake Bible 5 Camp in Rhinelander, WI, for many years.

In 1997, he and Cathy then moved to Rhinelander, where they built a beautiful home on the shores of Crescent Lake, and attended Pinegrove Community Church. While in Rhinelander, Jim's entrepreneurial skills were again at work, as he started another successful business in telecommunications called Dialtone 2000.

In 2005, they moved to Green Valley, AZ. Jim dove right into many activities, including, involvement at the Green Valley Evangelical Free Church, and helped in launching a brand new church in the area called Grace Church of Sahuarita. In 2006, Jim and his son, Lincoln, started another business together called Lincoln James Tiling, which again, was a success.

Jim had an amazing sense of humor, a never-ending enthusiasm for working hard and playing hard too, and a special gift for befriending and encouraging virtually everyone he came into contact with. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather who enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family playing games and cheering on the Packers! He was an avid golfer who truly loved his part-time job in his later years at the San Ignacio Golf Club. He was also an avid downhill skier, tennis player, and private pilot back in Marshfield. And he absolutely loved fishing for walleye with family and friends up in Canada, and looked forward to his annual June fishing trip there. But what Jim loved even more than catching walleye, was being a "fisher of men," in which he graciously and consistently shared the Good News of who Jesus Christ is with everyone he could. Jim's greatest passion was to let people know about God's free gift of eternal life through Christ. Even in his last days fighting cancer, his mission was to see people trust in Jesus.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Irma Brayer; his sister, Rita Howe; his father-in-law, Harold Weichelt; and his sister-in-law Vicki Weichelt.

He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Cathy Brayer; his son and daughter-in-law Lincoln and Abby Brayer; his daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Joel Alameida; and his beloved grandchildren, Charis, Sophie and Naomi Brayer, and Lyla, Pearl and Ben Alameida. He is also survived by his siblings, Don Brayer, Paul Brayer, Mary Bodden, Mark Brayer, Jane Kearney, Steve Brayer, and Patrick Brayer.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Green Valley Evangelical Free Church, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 10:30 am.



This obituary was originally published in the Green Valley News & Sun.