James Earl Gillingham

James Earl Gillingham James (Jimmy G) Earl Gillingham passed away unexpectedly at his home in Boise on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, at the age of 56. Jim was born Aug. 21, 1952 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., to Earl Stoflet and Alice Schmidt Stoflet. Earl and Alice had four children, Kathy, Jim, Gary and Dennis. An aneurysm took Earl's life when Jim was nine years old, and his mother married Ross Gillingham a few years later. Ross and Alice had a son, Bill, and Ross then adopted all of Alice's children. Jim grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, but moved to Wausau with his mother and brothers when he was in high school. Jim graduated from Wausau East High School in 1970, and graduated from Antigo Technical School in 1971 with a degree in welding. On Feb. 15, 1975, Jim married Kathy Dalbec. Jim and Kathy had two daughters, Jennifer, born in 1980, and Jessica, born in 1983. The girls were Jim's pride and joy, and when he changed from a career in welding to one in auto painting, he was a stay-at-home dad who took care of the girls and also ran his own body shop, Customs by Gillingham. Jim loved cars! He loved everything about cars, including drag races and car shows. Over the years, Jim, Kathy, and the girls traveled the car show circuit with their car enthusiast friends, and his paint jobs won him many first place trophies in car shows across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. He was a true artist when it came to painting cars. Every summer, Jim and his family traveled to Boise, Idaho to visit relatives. In 1993, they could no longer resist Idaho's sunny, dry climate, and they pulled up stakes and moved to Boise. Jim worked for several body shops in the Treasure Valley, until he found his true calling as an auto paint sales rep for Sherwin Williams in 1997. Jim and Kathy divorced in 1999, and Jim transferred first to Salem, Ore., then Cleveland, Ohio, and finally to Los Angeles, Calif. Jim traveled across the world demonstrating his painting skills to others. He returned to Boise in 2006 to be near his daughters and grandson, Landyn, and continued traveling for Sherwin Williams until his passing. But when Jim returned to Boise, he also took the opportunity to finally get back to doing what he always loved doing best. He found a large shop and began custom painting cars again. His daughters will keep his memory alive by taking his last project to car shows in the future. Jim was so looking forward to the birth of his second grandson, Oliver James, due in November, who will now have to rely on big brother Landyn to tell him all about the "Papa Jim" he never had a chance to meet. Jim will be missed by all who knew him, back in Wisconsin, here in Idaho, and in all the places he traveled in his last years. Jim was a wonderful father, grandfather, and friend, and leaves a lifetime of happy memories. Jim is survived by his daughters, Jen Gillingham (Justin Yehle), Boise, and Jessie Gillingham, Boise, grandson Landyn Yehle, Boise, sister Kathy (Roger) Forcey, Rice Lake, Wis., brothers Gary (Sharon) Gillingham, Woodstock, Ill., Dennis (Lois) Gillingham, Wausau, Wis., Bill (Lori) Gillingham, Mosinee, Wis., and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Stoflet and Alice Gillingham, and his step-father Ross Gillingham. A memorial service is being held at Relyea Funeral Chapel at 318 N. Latah in Boise on Friday, September 19, at 1 p.m. Following the service, a celebration of Jim's life will take place at the American Cancer Society at 2676 S. Vista Avenue, Boise, Idaho, 83705. In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation to the American Cancer Society can be made in memory of Jim. Arrangements are under the direction of Cremation Society of Idaho.