Obituary

James Leonard Giese died peacefully in his home on February 6, 2025. Jim was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on October 7, 1946, to Leonard and Dora (Marsh) Giese. When Jim was a young child, his family moved to their hometown of Menomonie, Wisconsin. This is where he grew up and attended school. Growing up, Jim fished, hunted, delivered newspapers, worked in his father's gas station, and spent summers as a farmhand on his cousin's farm in Gilmanton, Wisconsin.

After graduating from Menomonie High School in 1965, Jim enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard, completed his training, and remained a reservist for many years. On May 6, 1967, Jim married Elaine Jenson, the love of his life, at the Lutheran Church in Elaine's hometown of Elk Mound, Wisconsin. The newlyweds moved to Racine, Wisconsin, to live, work, play, and raise their family together. They lived in Racine for all of their beautiful 58 years together.

Jim was an avid fisherman, hunter, traveler, naturalist, chef, and baker. Road trips on Wisconsin's back roads were one of his favorite ways to travel. He knew the counties and state highways like the back of his hand. Family dinners often featured Jim's excellent cooking. An invitation to dinner at his house always meant something delicious was in store, maybe barbecued chicken, beans, or spaghetti and meatballs. Jim's love of nature showed in his daily observation and care of the neighborhood wildlife. When his daughters were young, Jim spent countless weekends with them at the city zoo, parks, tennis courts, and shores of Lake Michigan, introducing them to a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. In his retirement years, you could find Jim tinkering at his garage workbench, feeding the birds and squirrels, chatting with the neighbors and dog walkers passing by, or reading a book on his back deck in the afternoon sun alongside Elaine.

Jim was most proud of his family and treasured the love and time they shared together. He called and texted them daily to chat about the weather, sports, current events, recipes, wildlife sightings or just to be sure they were doing well. Jim was the biggest supporter of his wife, daughters, son-in-law, and grandsons. He delighted in keeping up with their careers, travels, friendships, and day-to-day lives. He will be remembered as a kind, caring, generous, and humorous man.

Jim is survived by his wife and best friend Elaine, daughters Pamela (Bruce) Christopherson and Julie Giese; grandsons Luke Christopherson and Peter Christopherson (Allison Erickson); brother Thomas (Tammy) Giese; siblings-in-law Lorene Jenson, Donna (Connie) Shager, Judy (Lyn) Dieter, and David Jenson. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Dora, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Wilmer and Inez Jenson, sister-in-law Doris (Art) Mohr, and brother-in-law Victor Jenson.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Purath-Strand Funeral Home, 3915 Douglas Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin with Pastor Allison Johnson officiating. There will be a visitation from 10:30-12:30 Saturday prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to Journey in Faith Lutheran Church https://www.jifchurch.com/ or H.O.P.E. Safehouse https://hopesafehouse.org/donate/ .

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Giese, please visit our flower store.

Services

Visitation

February

15

Purath Strand Funeral Home

3915 Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI 53402

10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Memorial Service

February

15

Purath Strand Funeral Home

3915 Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI 53402

Starts at 12:30 pm

Share James Giese's obituary with others.

Stay updated

Share this obituary with others

Print

Obituary

Services

James Giese's Guestbook