Jim was born at home in Hartford, Wisconsin in 1930. He graduated from Menomonee Falls High School and attended Purdue University Civil Engineering School. In high school and college he worked many jobs: at a milk condensory, a leather factory, a bowling alley, the Wisconsin Highway Commission, and The Purdue-Indiana Joint Research Board. He was a surveyor and engineer. In the 1950’s he was drafted into the army and graduated number one in the Army Topographical School. He spent 19 months of his 2 years of active duty in Japan, Okinawa, Borneo, and the Philippines. When he returned, he worked for a road building company in Milwaukee. He moved to Naples, Florida in 1967 to open and manage a branch for the company that grew to be quite large with locations in Lake Placid, Fort Myers and Port Charlotte.
Jim and his wife Jane were instrumental in helping to shape the spiritual, educational, and community life of Naples for many years. Jim was a scout master, and a church council member and president. He served on the United Way Fund, and many committees for the City of Naples, Collier County, and Collier County Schools. He was President of the Naples Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of NAC-PAC, President of Naples North Rotary (a Paul Harris designee), and President of Ad Miller Tiger Bay. Jim and Jane moved to Vi at Bentley Village in 2010. While there he served as a building representative, volunteered at the Bentley Care Center and in the Naples community at Grace Place for Children and Families where he was an honorary board member.
Jim is pre-deceased by his wife Jane (2017), two sisters (Jeanette and Margaret) and a brother (Charles). He is survived by his sister Shirley Kealey; his children: Linda Anne Buehler (Fred), Kathleen Lyon (Doug), Patrick McLaughlin (Jana), and Mary Prather (Hal); eight grandchildren: Mariah Lentz (Nick), John Lyon (Samantha), Jane McLaughlin (Cody), Megan Gould (Jason), William McLaughlin, Anna Prather, Erin McLaughlin and Grant Prather; and two great grandchildren: James and Josie Gould.
Condolences can be sent to the family c/o Kathleen McLaughlin Lyon, 7484 Botanica Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34238. A memorial remembrance will be announced at a later date. Memorial gifts can be made to Grace Place for Children and Families, P.O. Box 990531, Naples, FL 34116, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 77 Mooring Line Drive, Naples FL 34102 or the charity of your choice.
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