Lewis "Jim" James Scheer

Lewis James "Jim" Scheer, aged 94, passed away peacefully at his home on April 13, 2025. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Anne of 67 years; his children Thomas Robert and Anne Catherine; his grandson Lewis James III; his parents, Fred and Pearl; and siblings Richard, Fred, Pat, and Nora Anne.

Born July 17, 1930, in a log cabin on Ghost Creek in Hayward, Wisconsin, Jim lived a full and vibrant life. He was educated in a one-room schoolhouse at Spider Lake, skipping a grade, a cheerleader at Hayward High School, attended Wentworth Military Academy and the Illinois Institute of Technology on a full scholarship granted by Charles Traer, former chairman of The Acme Steel Company in Chicago.

Married to his childhood sweetheart Anne in 1953, nine children quickly followed. When passed over for a promotion while at Lannon & Company, Dad took a bold step, leaving the firm in 1963. With no outside assistance, he founded Scheer's Insurance, a company he started in a spare bedroom, which grew into one of the largest privately-owned retail insurance brokerages in the United States, specializing in surety bonds to companies in the construction, manufacturing, homebuilding, environmental, energy and transportation sectors. In 2008, Scheer's was acquired by Hub International Limited.

Dad devoted significant time to wildlife conservation and was one of Illinois' best-known advocates for efforts to conserve and expand duck habitat and improve duck hunting opportunities. He served as the first chairman of Ducks Unlimited in Illinois, and he was a longtime board member of Delta Waterfowl. Dad is credited with drafting legislation in the 1970s that implemented Illinois' Duck Stamp to provide funding directly from hunters for those endeavors. Dad was a tireless fundraiser for conservation and youth hunting programs in Illinois and served as a director of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin.

Dad was a remarkable individual who touched many lives. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting and fishing and spent much of his time hunting at the family farm or fishing at the family cabin on Ghost Lake. Truly a world traveler and outdoor enthusiast, Dad hunted and fished across the globe, from the Arctic to the wilds of Africa and down to the jungle rivers of South America. His adventurous spirit and passion for the outdoors will always be remembered.

Dad's generous spirit went well beyond conservation. He rarely turned away anyone with a need, providing encouragement, counsel, housing, employment, and financial assistance for many, always with the advice, "Ya gotta get at it!"

Jim is survived by his children Judith ("Sue") Schmidt, Mary Porreca, Nancy (David) Dohnalek, Lewis James Scheer Jr., Michael (Jackie) Scheer, Timothy (Bridget) Scheer, and Richard (Laurine) Scheer, by 23 grandchildren and 11 great- grandchildren.

A Vigil Service will be held at Hallowell & James Funeral Home between 4pm-8pm on Monday, April 21. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Cletus Catholic Church at 10am on Tuesday, April 22.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made either to St. Cletus Catholic Church or The Delta Waterfowl Foundation.

Funeral Information: 708-352-6500 or hjfunerals.com