JAMES W. GINTHER

James William Ginther, age 85, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2021, surrounded by his family after losing his long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Freda Ginther; daughter, Kandie Flannery; son-in-law, Steve Flannery; grandsons, Jason Flannery, Casey Flannery and Skylar Flannery; son, Mitch Ginther; and daughter-in-law, Joanne Barnes; brother, William Ginther; and sister-in-law, Marge Ginther; daughter, Donna Ginther; son-in-law, Rodger Erickson; grandson, Bryce Erickson; granddaughter, Adele Erickson; daughter, Kristan Ginther; son-in-law, Daniel Cubias; and grandson, Zakary Cubias.

Jim started working at Curtis Candy company, milking and showing dairy cows, which lead to a love of cattle that lasted throughout his life. He worked at Chrysler Corp. in Belvidere, Illinois, for 26 years as a manager. There he invented the Ginther bar, a device that assisted with the car assembly line. In addition to these full-time jobs, his real love was farming. For 47 years, Jim raised crops, gardened and tended to a menagerie of animals, including cattle, goats, chickens, horses and any stray who happened upon the best 50 acres in Rock County. One of the first additions to the farm was a grade milk cow named Moo who he milked by hand. On that same farm, Jim built the house with his own hands that stands there today. He instilled a love of nature, hard work and animal husbandry in anyone who met and knew him. Jim will be remembered by his family for his great sense of humor, love of obscure country musicians, his strength of character and enjoying the simple pleasures in life. It can be said of Jim that he never took a direct route to any location in his life because the journey was just as important as the destination.

A visitation and funeral services were held at D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home in Brodhead on Friday July 30, 2021.

Memorial donations may be made in Jim Ginther’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association and Agrace Hospice (https://www.agrace.org/donate/).

For more information, go online to www.dlnewcomerfuneralhome.com or call 608-897-2484.