James Schweger

1939 - 2021

James Schweger

James Schweger passed away on Sunday, February 28th due to complications of heart disease. He was born to Esther Vancalster and Boyd (Bud) Schweger on April 23rd, 1939 on the West side of Green Bay, WI. Jimmy's best friend for the first 10 years of his life was his beloved grandmother, Leontine, who was born in Belgium in 1886. Leontine spoke a French/Dutch dialect called "Walloon" and lived with the Schweger family.

The Schwegers purchased a summer cabin on the shores of Green Bay (Little Suamico) where Jim could excel in his love of swimming, fishing, and boating. Jim built small hydroplanes, tinkered with engines, and challenged his friends and family to ride behind on skis or even an old ironing board!

Jim graduated from West High School in 1957 and worked every summer at the Fort Howard Paper Company during his college years where his father was Vice President of Engineering.

Jim attended the University of Wisconsin in the department of mechanical engineering where he met a one-time paying customer for a ride home to the East side of Green Bay. Nancy Klann was smitten with Jim's movie star good looks and dry sense of humor. The summer after graduation, Jim found himself saying "I do" at the First Congregational Church. That afternoon, the young couple hopped in a 1954 Ford (a $50 purchase from his uncle) and headed west to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.

Jim held several positions in WA and CA in engineering, maintenance and design. He ended his career as Plant Engineer with the James River paper company in Camas, WA.

Jim particularly loved hunting, fishing, boating and design. He collected historic firearms and enjoyed gardening, scuba-diving, skiing (water and snow), and flying. Jim at one point obtained his pilot's license for small aircraft. Restoring collectible cars, outboard motors and duck carving kept him busy and productive over the years. At his cabin in Idaho, Jim would fish for hours at a time for perch, to enjoy fried up just like in the old days in Wisconsin

Jim leaves behind wife Nancy, daughters, Gail & Laura; their spouses Dave and Karen; grandchildren David, Tori, James and Charlie; along with his sister, Jean Hendrickson and her 3 children, Kim, Kelly and Joe. Jim's kindness, generosity, humor, self-discipline, and zest for productive learning are large parts of his legacy.