Ghiardi, James D.
Passed away peacefully at home on January 18, 2016 at the age of 97. Devoted husband of the late Phyllis Ghiardi (nee Lindmeier). Most beloved father of Catherine Miller, Jeanne (James) Duffy and Mary (Richard) Merlie. Dear grandfather of Jennifer Duffy (Michael McCutcheon), Sarah Miller (Jon Konrath), Elizabeth Miller (Matthew Stratton), Jessica (Josh) Kreye, and Cristina Miller. Blessed great-grandfather of Gracie and Addison Kreye and twins Giacomo and Ambrose Stratton-Miller. Loving brother of the late John B. Ghiardi and the late Mary Ghiardi Guy. Dear brother-in-law of Mary Ann White. Beloved uncle of Margaret (Frank) Kryfka, Jack Ghiardi, Francis (Katherine) Ghiardi, Thomas Tollefson, Ann Tollefson Elliott, and the late John R. Johns. Also lovingly remembered by many other family members, colleagues, students and friends.
Jim was born on November 10, 1918 in Gwinn, MI to Italian immigrants, Giovanni B. Ghiardi and Maria Marghereta Ghiardi (nee Trossello). The family returned to Italy in his early childhood, but moved back to Upper Michigan when Jim was age 5. He grew up in Negaunee, MI and was a 1940 graduate of Marquette University and a 1942 graduate of the Marquette University Law School.
A WWII veteran, inducted into the U. S. Army in 1942, Jim was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the Army Medical Corps in 1943 and ultimately assigned to the 39th Evacuation Hospital, remaining with them until November, 1945. He met his wife Phyllis in 1943 when she was also assigned to the 39th as one of the first nurses in the unit, on summer maneuvers near Shelbyville, TN. They served together in the European theatre during WWII with the Third Army under General George Patton in the Battles of Normandy, Ardennes, Northern France, Rhineland, and Northern Europe. Their unit treated over 20,000 casualties, including those from the Battle of the Bulge. Jim served in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1953 and was honorably discharged as a Captain.
Jim and Phyllis were married on September 7, 1945 in Amberg, Germany after the war in the Pacific ended. They honeymooned on the Riviera in France before returning to the U.S. for their military discharge. Travel ultimately became an important part of their lives. With his beloved cousin John F. L. Ghiardi, Jim located many of his dear relatives in Italy's Piedmont and visited them four times between 1990 and 2001. Phyllis and Jim also welcomed the advent of over 40 new years with their annual post-Christmas visit to the Hawaiian branch of the family.
Jim was a full-time faculty member of the Marquette University Law School from 1946 until he assumed Emeritus status 47 years later. He was a devoted and challenging teacher who expected excellence from both himself and his students. He also was a prolific author of legal articles and served as Research Director of the Defense Research Institute from 1962 to 1972. He was President of the Wisconsin State Bar after serving eight years on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee. He was a Delegate to the American Bar Association from 1967-1980, active in the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, and the Justinian Society of Wisconsin, among others. He received more than a dozen awards for excellence and service during his career. He also continued to be an MU basketball fan his entire life.
A long-time resident of Whitefish Bay, WI and then Shorewood, WI, Jim moved to the Milwaukee Catholic Home in 2014. The family wishes to express its everlasting gratitude to the caring staff of the Home, as well as to Vitas Hospice for their compassionate care during his final days.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 24th at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Dr., from 2-4 p.m. A visitation will also be held starting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, January 25th, followed by the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of the Gesu, 1145 W. Wisconsin Ave. at 10:30 a.m. Committal Services and Military Honors will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7301 W. Nash, after the Mass. A lunch will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago Ave. Memorials in Jim's name may be made to the Marquette University Law School, (James D. Ghiardi and Phyllis A. Ghiardi Scholarship Fund), or to the Milwaukee Catholic Home (Employee Fund).
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