James P. Huff

James (Jim) Perin Huff (86) passed away peacefully and on his terms in the early morning hours of March 13, 2024, in Hartford, WI. He was born December 4, 1937, in Milwaukee, WI.
Jim had an engineer's mind and was able to fix just about anything. He tinkered with technology from a young age. During his college years, he was an avid amateur ham radio operator (W9ZDM) which connected him with the world. Throughout his life, he always had a pet project going whether it be fixing a car, dabbling with home brewing, working with an architect to design and build a new house (5 houses/moves in and around the Town of Erin), building a Swiss chalet-style barn to house a myriad of pets and so much more. He found success in business having held executive-level positions in multiple Wisconsin-based companies including RF Technologies, RTE and Kohler Company. In his retirement, he served his church as the business manager.
Jim had a penchant for speed and all things exotic, especially cars. He was one of the founding members of the Alfa Romeo Owner's Club (AROC) of WI and the proud owner of many Alfa Romeos (and one rogue Ferrari) over the years. He loved AROC-WI events including local car shows, tech sessions, Road America challenges and hill climbs, but equally delighted in taking his kids on summer rides (with the top down) through the rolling hills of Erin sometimes going just a smidge over the speed limit.
He loved adventure! He and Maria drove their 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider convertible from Milwaukee to Mexico City on their honeymoon in 1961. This ignited a lifelong passion for travel which took him and Maria (and sometimes the girls) not only camping "up north" and on the periodic obligatory summer cross-country road trip, but also to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, Estonia, Tangier, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Jim was fiercely patriotic but thrived on experiencing different cultures from the food to the customs to the music; the house was regularly filled with the rhythms of Colombian cumbia, his personal favorite. He was fluent in Spanish and studied Italian and Portuguese later in life.
Jim always encouraged his daughters to pursue their dreams whatever they may be and to live beyond the status quo. It's not surprising that they acquired that same desire to travel, both having seen much of the world (with more left to explore!). He was incredibly proud of his daughter, Cynthia, and told anyone who would listen about how she "worked for the airlines" and flew internationally. His daughter Gina followed in his footsteps professionally and now owns a small business consulting firm that she named The Perin Group, LLC as a nod to the one who inspired her in so many ways.
In memory of Jim, we ask this; take that trip you've planned in your mind but never seemed to find time for, pursue a dream you've convinced yourself it's too late to start, take a risk and push yourself to do one thing that scares you, give to someone in need The world is full of possibilities - experience it!
Jim will be missed dearly by his wife, Maria (nee Tobon) and children Gina (Elijah) of Shorewood, WI and Cynthia of Silverton, OR. He is further survived by many cherished cousins, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Lillian (nee Rohde) and sister Sharon Kudingo (nee Huff).
A Memorial Service for Jim will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Shimon Funeral Home (824 Union St. Hartford, WI 53027). Family will greet relatives and friends from 1:00 p.m. until the start of service at 2:00 p.m.