James Wolsfelt

1937 - 2016

James Joseph Wolsfelt, 78 formerly of Somonauk, IL passed away at Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa on February 20, 2016. He was born in Chicago, IL on November 6, 1937. He was the son of Walter and Isabel (Mitchell) Wolsfelt of Aurora. On July 18, 1959 he married Patricia (Boyce) Wolsfelt in Aurora, IL.Jim served in the Navy from August 1956 to August 1958 and went into Inactive Naval Reserves until his discharge in November 1961. While in the Navy he learned what his career would be. In the early 1960's he was on the North Aurora Police/Fire Dept. In 1965, he joined the Batavia Fire Dept. where he was one of the four "First Paid" firemen in that Dept. In 1970 he left the Batavia FD to become one of the first full time members of the original Fermi lab Fire Department crew but remained on the Batavia paid on call (volunteer force) until 1972 when the family moved to the country in Somonauk. He retired from Fermi lab in 1995 as Captain. Jim was many things in his life. He had his own business "Jim's Remodeling and Repairs" specializing in custom kitchens and baths. He loved to travel around the country with his wife Patricia. Jim enjoyed going to Rendezvous as a "Mountain man" where he grew a beard and the tiny pony tail he was so proud of. He was a member of the Chaplin Creek Muzzleloaders in Franklin Grove, IL, a mason with the Sunbeam Masonic Lodge # 428 of Plano, IL and a member of the Beaver Degree of Alafia River Lodge out of Florida. Jim loved animals and over the years had a menagerie of all kinds but never was without his "beloved dog or cat". He was a man that loved the outdoors. Fascinated by people, he would make lifelong friends from just a hello. Jim is survived by 4 children, Larry (Sandy) Wolsfelt, Jeff (Loreen) Wolsfelt, Cathy (Dale) Glover and Jamie Cabatingan- Grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) Stahly, Kimberly (Jorge) Nikolas, James Wolsfelt, Roberta O'Brien, Warren Wolsfelt and Autumn Bowman, Makayla and Erin Cabatingan-Great grandchildren, Alexus and Christian Stahly, Isaac and Patrick Nikolas, Nikki O'Brien. Jim is preceded in death by his wife Patricia and his parents Walter and Isabel. You're invited to a Memorial Mass at St. Johns the Baptist Catholic Church in Somonauk, IL on Saturday March 19, 2016 at 11 am. A luncheon to celebrate his life will follow the mass at the church hall. Private Burial will be at Mt Olivet Cemetery in Aurora, IL. Memorials may be directed to the donor's choice.