James T. Zickus

James T. Zickus Sr., 86, passed away at Hospice Alliance-Racine on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Jim was born in Racine on Dec. 13, 1928, the son of the late Peter and Hedwig (nee: Lipinski) Zickus. After graduating from Park High School he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952. Jim was stationed in England and participated in the Berlin Airlift. On Aug. 19, 1950, he was united in holy matrimony to Elaine Wahlen in St Casimir's Catholic Church.
Jim was a tool and die maker by trade and spent 34 years at JI Case Company. When he retired in 1988 he was the tool room foreman. His wife and family always came first. Jim also had many interests during his lifetime: fishing, hunting, woodworking and picking mushrooms. He enjoyed 15 years at his cottage on the lake in northern Wisconsin, and many more years traveling with friends. Jim was a member of The American Legion and the JI Case 20-year club.
He is survived by his loving wife Elaine; their children Peter (Jancy Kropp) Zickus, James (Karen) Zickus, Christine (Brigido) Palomo, and William (Kelly); grandchildren Erin (Eric), Adam (Ann), Laura (Steven), Timothy (Elizabeth), Joe (Melissa), Sarah (Frank), Michael, Daniel, Brenda (Todd), David, Casey, Alicia and Andrew; great-grandchildren Aiden, Avery, Timothy, Camden, Kaleb, M'Kye, Jace and Nala. He is further survived by his sisters-in-law: Mary Ellen Zickus, Loretta Wahlen and Mary Wahlen; as well as his dear friends Bill and Joann TeVrucht, John and Roseann Lease, Mildred Kral, and many other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Helen (Wilfred) Patrick, his brothers Louis Zickus and Peter Zickus, and sister-in-law Maria Zickus.