James Albert Calhoun

Mom and Dad at Lk Amnicon

I had the good fortune to take care of Dad for two weeks this past summer over two separate occasions. This was mainly to help out Brian who was doing most everything by himself and needed help. Not being naturally very nurturing I wasn't sure how it was going to work out and I was informed he needed quite a bit of help by this time no longer living in Clearwater but in assisted living. I was surprised to discover caring for him was not only easy but quite rewarding. I especially enjoyed our afternoon exercise routines where he would scoot around the hallways backwards in his transporter device ending up doing pushups on a balcony railing overlooking the entrance and dining room. 100 pushups was his goal and on at least one occasion after distracting him he lost count and I let him keep going...he did about 130...my bad! Putting him to bed was without doubt the most emotional for me as when we looked at each other saying goodnight with him tucked in, I saw a level of vulnerability as never before. He was like a child to me...innocent and completely vulnerable. A beautiful moment to be sure. Rest in peace Dad!

Jim was one the the greatest humans I have ever met. His gentle, caring, and generous demeanor was to be admired. I will always treasure our many phone calls over the years and the wonderful stories he has shared with me. I loved baking for him when he stayed at Jerry's cabin for a couple years. I know he liked that, too. We also had the pleasure of meeting all of his kids when he was staying in the neighborhood. He was so darn proud of all of you. The same goes for the rest of the family. I remember visiting Jim in FL several years ago. He took us to lunch and we visited in his condo. He was so happy we came. He will always remain a part of our Amnicon Lake family. I am a better person because of Jim. He has taught me many great lessons that I will carry with me. He never judged anyone and he was a dear friend to many. I will cherish that friendship I had with Jim. It breaks my heart that I will no longer hear his stories or hear his kind and caring voice at the other end. He was one in a million and I will never forget him. He is loved and missed by all of us on Amnicon Lake. My heart goes out to all of his family at this time of terrible loss. I know he lived a good life. Now he is smiling down from heaven on all of us and sharing his stories to others above. Rest in peace Jim. I will never forget you.

My father's life is summarized best by the manner in which he handled life's challenges. Born with a lazy eye he endured the typical taunting of youth by demonstrating his ability to perform any task as well or better than his peers. (Learning boxing skills helped convince the occasional non-believer). After surgery had aligned the appearance of his eye, and he decided to take leave from the Wisconsin Telephone Company to enlist in World War II efforts, the Army Air Corp did not realize his eyesight limitations until after boot camp was completed and he was being screened for overseas deployment. When offered the opportunity to return home, he declined and that singular decision directed the rest of his life. He met his future wife in England (she being from Ireland and a conscripted member of the English Woman's Air Corp) and when the war ended the new family returned to Wisconsin and Dad to the telephone company. For the rest of his life he performed with his one good eye as successfully as his normal visioned peers. When macular degeneration struck in his mid 90's, he learned to use his peripheral vision to compensate and was able to remain ambulatory up to his sudden death. Dad was a humble but extraordinary example of quiet courage and truly deserves his recognition as a member of the greatest generation.

Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of this kind and gentle man. My husband and I knew Jim at Clearwater Lawn Bowling where he was a bowling stalwart. We live in Canada and I still treasure the letters he wrote to Jim when he was unwell. His stories were legend. Remembered always.

I meet Jim at the Lawnbowling club in Florida while vacating there for the winter months.It was the beginning of a great friendship. We kept in touch when I was back in Canada for the Spring & Summer months. Jim would call to see how I was doing and I sent him pictures of my flower garden. He never forgot my Birthday.I was blessed to have met him and will miss him .
My prayers and thoughts are with his family.

Younger Years

At Christina's Pizza, Clearwater

Mr. Calhoun was our neighbor for 8 years in Clearwater Beach and it was TRULY our HONOR to know him and enjoy he amazing optimism and amazing great (and VERY specific!) stories. Mr. C. had great stories from his childhood to his meeting Patricia overseas and of his amazing family and those tales. Jim was an amazing man of character and integrity and played a great role in our community. To say he will be missed is a huge understatement! God bless the amazing Calhoun Family; It has been such a pleasure to know Brian, Shawn and Colleen and their respective families.

Jim was our neighbor for 8 tears (2014-2021) and was an absolute pleasure to be around. He brought so much to our community and to us personally with his beautiful (and with crazy sharp clarity....) stories going back to meeting his wife Patricia and all the great Wisconsin tales. More than anything, Jim gave us great hope and great encouragement with his positive and caring demeanor. We also had the pleasure of meeting Brian, Shawn and Colleen and each of them are so successful in their lives and were such a great source of PRIDE for Mr. Jim Calhoun!!! God Bless the Calhoun family and our lives are enriched by knowing them all.

My favorite story was one recently that Dad was remembering - it seemed to get more detailed as Dad aged, he was telling it to me in assisted living. While bombs were falling at night in London, Jim & Patricia were buying a wedding ring. Dad said the shopkeeper to their surprise, was willing to open up. They went in through a black out drape, and bought what the money in his pocket could afford. It made me realize that James and mom, were adventurous, in love and determined to be married!

We remember Jim rowing his boat and catching Walleyes.
I remember the day he came over and gave me a new electric trimmer. I was trimming by hand. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I painted his cabin 2 coats. I taught he and Patricia how to do stained glass. They loved doing it. We had many happy hours. We enjoyed their company so much. We admired them so much.
He was a great man. One time we found 3 oranges on our table by the garden. Jim´s mom had picked some vegetables from Tom´s garden. Even trade. God´s blessings to you Jim. You are certainly going to heaven. See you there someday.
Love you, Tom and Sharyn
Vengrin. Friends from Lake Amnicon. Still here!

I had the pleasure of being Jim's house cleaner. We made an instant connection, seeing how I was from Wisconsin. We had great talks and a lot of fun with his Alexa. He was so impressed with that devise. Jimmy will be dearly missed and I feel my life was enhanced by having been a friend of his. My condolences to the family.