JAMES CHRISTIE

JAMES CHRISTIE

     James Orville Christie, born March 19, 1935, to Ernest and Christine (Kalkofen) Christie in the town of Eaton, WI, passed away peacefully March 30, 2023, holding the hand of his wife, Mary. Jim and Mary (Hilleshiem) were married for over 67 years.

     Jim attended grade school at St. John’s Lutheran in Neillsville and graduated high school from Logan High in La Crosse. Jim retired in 1997 from human resources at La Crosse Footwear after 40 years of faithful service to the company.  

     For many years, Jim was a member of the Hatfield Sportsman Club and the Hatfield Snowmobile Club and he was a supervisor for the town of Dewhurst.

     He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and being outdoors with his family and friends and always looked forward to his annual pheasant hunt with his kids and grandkids. He was able to deer hunt with his children, grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Jim enjoyed sports: yelling at the Packers on TV, watching games on TV with family and friends and watching his grandkids play. His love for the game had him playing softball into his 60s. Jim and Mary enjoyed dancing, and his dance skills were well-known.

     Jim is survived by his wife, Mary; three children, Debra, Denyse (Peter) and Dan (Carrie); seven grandchildren, Eric (Rochelle), Amy (Seth), Kevin (Jennifer), Kaitlyn (Kyle), Lisa, Jeremy (Carrie) and Lori; 13 great-grandchildren, Nate (Gabby), Nick (Ashley), Ian, Mac, Ellie, Jaedyn, Cooper, Moira, Elizabeth, Nolan, Silas, Julian and Zander; and four great-great-grandchildren, Wisdom, Nevaeha, Gracen and Talon. He is also survived by three nieces and four great-nieces and nephews and sisters-in law Sharon and Irene.

     Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Christine; brother and sister-in-law Jerry and Carol Christie; nephew Michael Christie, grandson-in-law Nick Janz; brother- and sister-in-law Roger and Eileen Hellerud, and brother-in-law Gerald Hilleshiem.  

     Jim’s memorial service was held Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, North 6598 Cty Rd A, Black River Falls, WI. Visitation was at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service; a light lunch followed the service. Burial was at Hatfield Cemetery.  

     In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s honor to Faith Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, the Kidney Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.  

     The Torgerson’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, 715-284-4321.