Obit: Eisentraut, James Alvin (1941 - 2007)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Eisentraut, Lynch, Shelley, Taylor, Sturman, Braatz

----Sources:Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI.) April 18, 2007

Eisentraut, James Alvin (August 4, 1941 - March 3, 2007)

James Alvin Eisentraut, age 65, passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2007, after a 10 ½ year battle with myelofibrosis, while vacationing in Pensacola, FL, with his family by his side.

He was born on August 4, 1941, to Carl and Doris Eisentraut in Neillsville, in their family home. Jim’s strong work ethic was greatly influenced by his contribution to the family dairy farm. After attending the University of Wisconsin, Jim moved to Rockford, where he held the position of bookkeeper for Special Machines. He married Mary Lynch in 1963. In 1972, Jim moved his family to Sterling, where he worked at Lawrence Bros. manufacturing for over 25 years. As chief financial officer, he was celebrated for his kindness and commitment to excellence.

Jim was a courageous and charismatic person, committed to his family and friends. He was an all around outdoorsman that had a true love of nature. Jim loved fishing, hunting and watching the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers. He was a member of many service organizations, including the Sterling Rotary and the Moose Lodge of Sterling. A great story teller, Jim provided encouragement and guidance to many with sincerity and always a good sense of humor.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Mary; and his three daughters, Cathy (Dirk) Shelley, of Highland park; Margaret (Bill) Taylor, of Dixon; and Paula (Jude) Sturman, of Costa Mesa, CA; his mother Doris (Victor) Braatz, of Weyerhaeuser, WI; his two brothers, Arnie (Bonnie) Eisentraut, of Apache Junction, AZ; and David (Pat) Eisentraut, of Neillsville; and one step-sister, Nicole Eisentraut. Jim is also survived by many nieces, nephews and three grandchildren that he loved very much, Jimmy and Zachary Taylor and Kaitlyn Shelley.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl Eisentraut.

Jim will be genuinely missed by all those who knew him and loved him. His life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Gesche’s Funeral Home, Neillsville, Wis. Burial will follow the service at Dell’s Dam Cemetery in Clark County. A visitation with the family will be held at 2 p.m. at Gesche’s Funeral Home. A reception will be held in Jim’s honor preceding the service at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville, Wis. Lunch will be following the service.