James Tessmer

James Tessmer, 63, 609 Mueller Street, Athens, died Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at home under the care of his family and Ministry Home Hospice Care after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born November 16, 1940 in Athens, son of the late Harold Tesmer and Emma (Wojciechowski) Tesmer Karow. On March 24, 1962 he married Mary Stoehr at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, Gresham. She survives. Jim graduated from Athens High School in 1958 and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1959. He served five years and was stationed in Texas, Maine, Missouri and Guam. After his Honorable Discharge he worked for several years as a meat cutter at 29 Supermarket, Wausau. On January 1, 1969 he and his wife purchased the IGA Supermarket in Athens and operated it until their retirement in July 2000. James was a member of the Athens Voulunteer Fire Department for 24 years. He served on the Athens Village Board for 12 years and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8527, Athens. "Big Jim" will be remembered by all who knew him for his larger-than-life personality and the many stories he loved to tell, "one time"... Survivors include his wife, Mary Tessmer, Athens; four children, James F. Tessmer, Wausau and his children, Nathan and Noah, Joseph (Renee) Tessmer, Athens and their children, Gunnar and Lane, Michael (Vicki) Tessmer, Oshkosh and their children, Emma and Ethan, Sarah (Aaron) Werth, Wausau; one brother Jerome (Moony) Tessmer, Athens; four sisters, Marcella (Victor) Novak, Milwaukee, Joan (Bruce) Sonnenberg, Oshkosh, Lynn (Ray) Steen, Medford, and Cheryl (Tony) Eckert, Medford. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Dolores Glaser and one infant brother David Tessmer. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2004 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens. Rev. Charles Hiebl will preside. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Athens where full military honors will be performed by the Athens VFW. Friends may call Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens and again Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. There will be a Prayer Service 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Athens funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family directs memorials be sent to St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens or Ministry Home Hospice Care, Marshfield. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com