James Boerner

James "Jim" Boerner passed away peacefully at St. Nicholas Hospital while in hospice care on Friday, June 29, 2018 with his loving wife by his side. Jim was born on January 14, 1938 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to the late Martin and Mary Boerner. Upon graduating from Kohler High School in 1956, Jim enlisted in the US Air Force where he completed Aircraft Control and Warning school at Keesler Air Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Jim was stationed at the Osceola Air Force Station in East Farmington, Wisconsin where he met the love of his life, Phyllis Montpetit, whom he married on June 10, 1961. Together Jim and Phyllis raised four children.

Jim spent most of his career at Plastics Engineering as a Maintenance Foreman retiring in 2000. During his 21 years at Plastics Engineering, he made many friends and continued to see them at company gatherings and for morning coffee after retirement. Jim had the mind and ability to fix anything. He was not one to give unsolicited advice, although his words, "Don't mess with plumbing - unless you know what you are doing", are best followed.

Following retirement, Jim continued with his passion for fishing, woodworking, cooking, and spending time with his grandchildren. Jim was a master craftsman having been given the gift of creating beautiful furniture and other pieces "for family only". He was often told he should sell his furniture; but to Jim, it was the meaning of the making it for those he loved that that gave him joy in the effort he put into it. If you were a recipient of one of Jim's pieces and not family, you were very special to him. Everything he did was with precision. On the very few occasions when a cut of wood was off ever so slightly, he would say "well we're not building a church".

Jim was not one who could sit for any period of time. He always had to be doing something. In addition to his woodworking, Jim was a self-taught chef taking over most of the cooking duties when he retired. He loved spending time in the kitchen making large quantities of soups, chili, and sliced beef. He mastered the Food Saver Sealer System, freezing servings of his soups and the like - with precision. Not one to pass up a good deal on meats, he used his food saver talent to fill the freezer as well. Jim took great pride and enjoyment cooking ribs and extra-large steaks for family and friends.

An avid sports fan, Jim was a stellar athlete himself playing football, basketball and track and field at Kohler High School. Jim was a part of the 1956 Kohler High School Basketball team that finished fourth in the WIAA State Tournament. In 2015, Jim was proud to take part in the WIAA Basketball 100th Anniversary celebrating the Kohler State Basketball Tournament Teams at Kohler High School.

Jim was an amazing father, father-in-law and grandfather. Whether it was working on cars with his son, attending his children's band concerts (too many to count), fishing with his children and then grandchildren, or attending his children's and grandchildren's sporting events, Jim took great pride in teaching us all valuable lessons for life. He was a role model and created memories that will long surpass his time with us and will be cherished and shared for generations to come.

Most of all, Jim was an incredible husband to Phyllis whom he cherished. She meant the world to him. His love and care for her cannot be described in words. He took great enjoyment cooking special dinners for her, gambling trips, and spending every waking minute with her. Phyllis was his greatest passion.

Jim will be sadly missed by his wife of 57 years, Phyllis (Montpetit) Boerner; children Lisa (Steve) Hansen of Oshkosh, Jim (Lisa) Boerner and Janelle (Jim) Goking of Sheboygan, and Mary (John) Walch of Green Bay; grandchildren Ellyn Hansen, Molly and Jack Goking, and Craig Gerber and Katherine Walch. He is further survived by his sisters, Jacqueline Daniels of Oshkosh and Jeanine (Scott) Mullen of Sheboygan. He was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Mary Boerner; father and mother-in-law Edward and Goldie Montpetit; brother, John Boerner; and grandson Mitchell Hansen.

Jim was a fighter who battled cancer for 18 years, but never complained. He was a man of strong faith and is at peace in the Lords hands, free of pain. The family would like to thank his special Angels who cared for him at St. Nicholas Hospital, especially his many compassionate nurses. We would also like to thank the nurses and staff at Matthews Oncology Associates for their kindness throughout the years. Finally, we thank Dr. Bettag whose compassion and friendship to Jim goes beyond that of a Doctor-patient relationship. Even to his end, he gave his caregivers and family a smile, a wink, and a Mentos.

Please visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com to sign the guestbook. As Jim requested, a private Mass for family will be held at Holy Name Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, Jim requested gifts in his memory be made to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Memorial Contribution