James Michael Guise

James Michael Guise
6/18/1945 - 7/27/2021
Resident of San Jose
James Michael Guise, age 76, child of God, loving husband, proud father of two, devoted grandfather of five, "danced" peacefully through the pearly gates of heaven on July 27, 2021 in San Jose, CA after a nearly 4-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Brenda, his wife of 56 years, and his son, Patrick, were by his side. He never let cancer define him and never hesitated to share the Reason for his hope and strong faith with others.
Jim was born on June 18, 1945 in York, PA to William Russell and Christina (Schroeder) Guise. In 1963 he graduated from William Penn Sr. High School in York, where he excelled at competitive swimming until a bad car crash put him in a body cast for his senior year. This ended his Olympic hopes and most of his swimming scholarships, but not his love of swimming. He attended Valparaiso University in Indiana and Millersville State Teachers College in Lancaster, PA before meeting his future bride, Brenda Louise Lehman in 1964 at St. John's Lutheran Church in York. They were later married there on February 12, 1965 and had two sons, James Michael Guise, Jr. born in 1965 and Patrick John Guise born in 1969.
Jim was exceptional at sales. He worked in various sales jobs until 1983 when he landed what he considered his "dream job" as a sales contractor for the Thomas Register of American Manufacturers. He was proud of the fact that he was the #1 new salesman in the company in his first year earning him the Rookie of the Year award. In 1986 he was offered and accepted a senior contractor position in TR's northern CA/Hawaii territory on the West coast and moved his family to San Jose, CA. Jim's excellent sales and management skills earned him TR's highest award after only his first year in CA…the coveted TR Green Jacket. His territory grew by leaps and bounds yearly until parting ways with the company in 1999. Jim loved that he was instrumental in helping local businesses grow. He later joined local San Jose company 8x8 and retired in 2019 due to his illness.
Church was a big part of Jim's life, both in York, PA and after moving to San Jose, CA. He enjoyed singing in choir and served where needed over the years. He and his family became members of Shepard of the Valley Lutheran Church in San Jose in 1987. In 2011 he joined St. Timothy's Lutheran Church where he was actively engaged until his recent death.
A member of the Almaden Valley Athletic Club since 1987, Jim enjoyed swimming, racquetball, USTA tennis and all the parties and events that came along with them.
He is preceded in death by his mother Christina Schroeder Skeen, his father William Russell Guise, his father-in-law John Adolf Lehman and his son, James Michael Guise, Jr. He is survived by his immediate family in San Jose, CA: wife, Brenda Guise; son, Patrick Guise; daughters-in-law, Kirsten and Jocelyn Guise and grandchildren: Cassandra Andersen, Nicholas Guise, Evan Guise, Jennifer Guise and James "Trey" Guise III and extensive extended family members in PA.
Jim genuinely loved people and never went anywhere without making a new friend. He often said, "We have more in common with each other, than we have things that separate us, if only we take the time to get to know one another." He was not a shy or quiet man…often the loudest in the bunch…had a great sense of humor…and was usually one of the last ones to leave a party. Many Jim Guise stories abound among his family and friends. He loved his family and was immensely proud of his grandkids. His was a life well-lived and he'll be missed by all who knew him. Well done, good and faithful servant!
A "celebration of life" memorial service will be held at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church, 5100 Camden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95124 at 11 am on Saturday, August 28, 2021. A reception will follow in Selbo Hall on the premises.


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