James F. Skyrms

James Frederick Skyrms, 74, of Neenah, WI, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on May 6, 2024.
Jimmy, as his many nieces and nephews called him, was a sweet "curmudgeon" who often retreated into a good book when people got to be too much. (According to his Kindle stats, Jim had read 78 books since the start of 2024.)
Born in Freeport, IL, on January 23, 1950, Jim graduated from Freeport High School, where he was named a National Merit Scholar. He went on to Williams College, eventually earning his BA in 1972. Never one to follow convention, Jim briefly dropped out of college to protest the Vietnam War and to explore his passion for the blues.
He played in the rock bands Special Care in Boston and Joe and Bing, and Carter's Little Beevo Band back at Williams. Jim helped pay for college with his rock band gigs and also by cowriting ad jingles for local businesses. Jim returned to academia after a few months of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, but he passionately pursued music as a vocation for the rest of his life. In 2015, he was co-executive producer on The Weather Below, by Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds.
Jim earned his MA and, in 1986, his Ph.D. in Medieval History from the University of Iowa, and for years, he shared his delight in learning as a professor of history and many other subjects at Westmar College, in LeMars, Iowa. In 1991, he became the rector of Teikyo University Holland in Maastricht, the Netherlands. He was a frequent visiting professor of entrepreneurship at Riinvest Univerisity in the Republic of Kosovo, traveling there for the first time shortly after the war ended in 1999. During this time, he completed an MBA at Open Universiteit and, in 1998, the Diplôme de Troisième Cycle from Écoles Universitaires de Management (IAE) in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Jim's dedication to the life of the mind spilled over from the classroom. A life-long learner, Jim immersed himself in world history, language, computer coding, the arts, and any other subject that piqued his interest. He eagerly shared his knowledge with people from many walks of life. Visitors to Maastricht expressed their astonishment at the sheer number of facts about his adopted city that he'd uncovered-and longed to share. Never pedantic, Jim invited his listener to join him on a safari of scholarship, making what might have been dry lessons into fascinating adventures.
Jim loved to learn from others. His superpower was his ability to focus and be present as a listener, asking just the right question to convey his genuine interest in what he was hearing.
Jim especially enjoyed spending time with young learners. He was never too busy for the children in his life, whether he was attending a tea party with his grandnieces, mentoring a talented nephew by taking him to a local blues night, or giggling with other nieces as he triumphed in Pretty, Pretty Princess and gallantly suggested that they all share the crown. It was often with children and students that his normally serious façade slipped away. In their presence he could not hide the mischievous grin that always waited just below the surface. For example, it surprised no one who knew him that, one day in Amsterdam, he grumpily sat in an oversized wooden shoe while his student watched in delight.
Jim was always ready to help. In 2003, he devoted himself to his father during his father's final fight with cancer. Present everyday, Jim tenderly managed the many tasks with which his father needed assistance, feeding him, carrying him to the shower; anything his farther needed, Jim provided.
Jim is preceded in death by his father, James Coen Skyrms; his mother Mary (Myers) Skyrms, and his beloved dogs Jesse, Emma, Gracie, and Chloe.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Leslie Wohlwend Skyrms, his brother John (Deb) Skyrms, sister Martha (Jeffrey) Peterson, sisters-in-law Lillian (Jim) Armstrong, Helyn Wohlwend and Melissa Wohlwend, brothers-in-law Todd (Francis) Wohlwend and David Wohlwend, nieces, Emily and Vernon (Peterson) Cassin, Sarah and Chris (Peterson) Pilcher, Anne and Ben (Packard) Morrill, Amy and Jeremy (Armstrong) Sellars, Amber (Armstrong) Liem, Jodi Young, Melissa and Kevin (Young) Lisowe, Austin Wohlwend, Hailey Wohlwend, and Andie Hollenbeck; nephews Ben Peterson, Matt Peterson, Joe (Julia) Peterson, Shane Young, Corey Young, Grayden Wohlwend, and JJ (Jenelle) Armstrong. He also leaves behind his beloved grand- nieces and -nephews: Francis, Emily Mae, Fiona, Natalie, Adelaide, Bethany, Tierney, Jack, Liam, Vernon IV, Benjamin, Haven, Joe, Jr and Samuel, as well as numerous other family members and friends.
A private service will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at Kimberley Point Park in Neenah, where Jim and his dog Fanny visited everyday.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Jim's memory may make donations to the ASPCA or the Fender Music Foundation, which awards grants for music education programs.