James J. Lilla

James J. Lilla 66, 570 Happy Hollow Road, Mosinee, died Monday April 22, 2002 at Community Health Care Wausau Hospital. He was born September 3, 1935 in Wausau, son of the late Florian and Jane (Warosh) Lilla. On February 27, 1960 he married Alice Starjnski in Rhinelander. She survives. Jim was a veteran of the US Navy serving during the Korean Conflict. Jim started his working career as a meat cutter at his parents corner market, Lilla's Grocery in Wausau. Later he was employed at Jim's Supermarket and the Piggly Wiggley in Mosinee. For 42 years, Jim and Alice owned and operated the Happy Hollow Bar in Mosinee. Always good natured and enjoying a joke, Jim affectionately referred to Alice as the 'boss' and himself as the 'janitor'. In the past, Jim served his community as Chief of the Kronenwetter Volunteer Fire Department as well as a special deputy to the Marathon County Sherriff's Department. He currently was a fire warden. Among his many and varied pastimes were bowling, dartball, playing pool, cards and shaking dice. He was an avid packer fan and had been a member of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife, Alice, a son, Randy (Gail) Lilla, Mosinee and their children, Derek, Stacey and Angela, a daughter, Linda Olson and her daughter, April, his twin sister, Jeanette (Pat) Zimick, Irma and their children, Paul & Steve, Oregon, a godchild, Sue, Menasha, Debbie, Tomahawk and Bernadette, Plymouth, a great-nephew, Michael and a sister, Sister Dolores Lilla FSPA, Merrill and other cousins. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday April 26, 2002 at St. Paul Catholic Church, Mosinee. Rev. Donald Przybylski and Jim's cousin, Rev. James Warosh SJ will preside. Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Friends may call on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Ave., Wausau and again on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. There will be a parish vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the Stewart Avenue funeral home.