James Peter Denzin

James (“Jim”) Peter Denzin, 93, of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, died peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday evening, August 24, 2024, at Pine Haven Christian Home in Oostburg, where he resided for the last 4 months.

Jim was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on January 30, 1931, the son of the late Arthur and Edna Mae (Ingelse) Denzin. He graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School with the Class of 1949. He married Elaine Marie Kalupa on September 20, 1957, in Sheboygan Falls, and they raised five children. Elaine preceded him in death on May 28, 2013. His first job was working at his father’s gas station in Sheboygan Falls during his high school years. He also worked at JCPenney Auto Service Center, and retired from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation at the age of 61 as a Fleet Mechanic after over 34 years of service. Jim was a proud member of the US Navy Seabees Construction Battalion for 12 years and worked up to a First Class Sergeant ranking.

He was a member of St. John Evangelist Catholic Parish in Kohler. Jim was an avid outdoorsman in his day and enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, rabbit hunting, and trap shooting, and held the State record Chinook Salmon in 1970. He was a member of the Farmer’s and Sportsman’s Club and was an NRA Lifetime Member. As a member of the Milwaukee Beagle Club for many years, Jim raised and trained beagles (Onion River Kennels) and traveled the state attending field trials. He was proud of his State Champion dog, Sam. His pride and joy the last 30 years was his “farm” property where he enjoyed gardening, planting fruit trees, blueberry and raspberry bushes, riding his tractor and 4-wheeler, and cutting grass.

Jim loved watching the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, and golf, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and going out to eat. He took great pride in tending to Elaine’s rose bushes at their home after her passing.

Surviving Jim are his five children: Diana Denzin (fiancé Kevin Juul) of Two Rivers; Katherine (Douglas) Groeschl, of Chassell, Michigan, and their son, Luke; Peter (Barbara) Denzin of Glenbeulah and their sons, Zachary (Kasey), Collin (Anna), and Jared (significant other Sydney LaPoint); Donna (Alan) Pikula of Sheboygan and their daughter, Kera; and Mark (significant other Lori DeSmidt) of Plymouth and his children, Easton Wagner (significant other Casey Sippel) and Joslyn Wagner (significant other Zach Jackowski). Also surviving him is his great granddaughter, Oaklynn Williams (Wagner), and another great grandchild is on the way; and his sisters: Helen (the late Irving) Johnson, Nancy (William) Jones, and Mary (Kevin) Anhalt, and other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

In addition to his parents and wife, Jim was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Irving Johnson, and sister-in-law, Helen Carole (Delbert) Dicke.

Cremation has taken place and private family services are being held. A Celebration of Life will be held at Chris & Sue’s, W3820 County Road C, Plymouth, on Friday, September 6, from 12:00-3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Jim’s name.

The family wishes to thank the staffs at Pine Haven Christian Home in Oostburg and Sharon S. Richardson Hospice.