James "Jim" N. Light

James N. Light, 75, Rib Mountain passed away on Friday, June 9, 2023 after a short battle with cancer while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at the Hospice House, Wausau.

James was born December 17, 1947 in Janesville, WI to James E and Cyrillia (Groshek) Light.  Jim graduated from Wausau High School in 1966 and then North Central Technical School.  On September 30, 1972 he married Marcie Dorshak at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Rothschild.  They were blessed with 50 years of marriage and she will miss him dearly.  They always had a dog in their life and Jim loved them like family.

Jim loved all sports and was an avid Brewers and Packers fan.  In his younger years, he played fast-pitch softball in church leagues including The Marksmen and they took first place multiple times in tournaments.  At the early age of 15, he played bass guitar in his first band The Bonnevilles and later with The 3rd of Us and other bands performing at local bars.  That music enthusiasm helped when he organized and performed for the Rock & Roll Revival Concerts and was given their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

Due to his love of sports, he was President of the Wausaqua Water Skiers Show Club in the late 60’s – early 70’s.  He was also a member of the Rib Mountain Ski Patrol and an instructor in their first aid program.  Jim loved to fish and hunt, and for over 50 years took an annual fishing trip with his buddies to either Canada or Upper Wisconsin.

Since Jim always seemed to be a bartender and never considered that work, in 1982 he opened The Lighthouse Bar which stood overlooking Lake Wausau.  He was the owner of that bar until it closed in 2003.  At The Lighthouse and other bars around Wausau, Jim participated in pool tournaments and was especially proud of taking 1st in the WI Valley Pocket Billiards Championship in 1971.  He even competed in national pool tournaments in Las Vegas and enjoyed meeting the professional pool sharks there.

When Jim retired from the bar business, he spent his time golfing and participating in tournaments.  To keep himself still involved with pool, he started Lighthouse Cue Repair to fix and refinish cue sticks.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Marcie Light of Rib Mountain; sister, MaryLou (Chuck) Major of Eau Claire; sister, Bobbi (David) Gau of Weston; niece/goddaughter (to Jim and Marcie), Tammy (Todd) Green of Eau Claire; many other nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Jim is preceded in death by his mother and father.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 20 at St. Anne Parish, Wausau.  The Reverend Tom Lindner will preside.  Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau.  Visitation will be held on Monday, June 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with rosary at 7:30 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 N 6th St, Wausau and again on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.