Search by Name

Search by Name

James David Williams

1927 - 2019

BORN

1927

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Schramka Funeral Home - Brookfield

13220 West Capitol Drive

Brookfield, Wisconsin

James Williams Obituary

James (Jim) David Williams

Brookfield - James (Jim) David Williams, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully at his home in Brookfield, surrounded by family on Friday, September 20, 2019.

He was born in Hinsdale, IL on March 15, 1927 to William Homer Williams of Waukesha and Margaret Ruth Jones Williams of La Grange, IL. He was married for fifty-nine years to Patricia Ann Rittler Williams who predeceased him in 2013. He is survived by their four daughters and their spouses: Jill (Barry Wightman); Bonnie (Robert Skelly); Jennifer (William Morales); and Jamie (Charles Sloan). He is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Claire Casey and her husband Matt, Ian Wightman and his wife Katy, Graham Wightman, Carson Morales and his wife Jenna, Madeline Morales, Caroline Morales, and Meredith Sloan and Margot Sloan, and by three great grandchildren, Mallory, Evan and Emily Casey. He loved and was also beloved by his Norwegian foreign exchange "daughter", Gyrid Jerve, and her family in Oslo, Norway, and by his Chinese "daughter", housemate and friend, Yifan Zhang, during the past four years. A resident of Elm Grove for forty-eight years, he also served for two years as a Waukesha County Commissioner.

Jim loved tennis, sailing, skiing, biking, exploring, telling jokes, trespassing, trying new things, and being with people. He had a joke for every occasion and an internal map of midwestern America drawn from his long and successful career as a manufacturer's representative for the dairy, packaging, and flavorings industries. Jim, with his deep knowledge of Waukesha County, was also a real estate and land developer, supporting small, local businesses for many years. More recently, he was also known and loved at his daughters' furniture consignment shop in Elm Grove, and was their designated "go-fer" - buying lunch for the staff, making runs to the hardware store and helping with customer relations. He had an outsized personality, took an interest in everyone, and was a great example of happiness. His favorite admonishment to his children was, "get happy."

A celebration of his life will take place at Thunder Bay Grille in Pewaukee, WI on Saturday, November 16 at 5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations to https://www.kidsave.org are requested.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sep. 29, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for James Williams

Sponsored by Schramka Funeral Home - Brookfield.

Not sure what to say?





1 Entry

Patti Williams

November 16, 2019

Thinking of Jim today. Hoping to make it to his celebration of life. He was -in the Williams tradition- a larger than life personality. I always looked forward to seeing him. He was a treasured member of the Wern Farm side of the clan and is missed.

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results

Make a Donation
in James Williams's name

Memorial Events
for James Williams

Nov

16

Celebration of Life

5:30 p.m.

Thunder Bay Grille

Pewaukee, WI

Funeral services provided by:

Schramka Funeral Home - Brookfield

13220 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005

How to support James's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor James Williams's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more