Coach James Robert “Jim” Allbaugh, of Shawano, Wisconsin (formerly of Richland Center), gave us an “Irish goodbye,” on Thursday, October 15, making a peaceful departure from this world during the seventh inning stretch of Game 4 of the Brewers National League Championship Series sweep over the Dodgers sending Milwaukee to the World Series; which seemed odd as he was mostly of German heritage.

Coach Allbaugh was surrounded by his family, enjoying a great game, after having run the good race of life with a Personal Best time of 80 years, two months and 17.75 days. At his birthday party this past July, he said, “Not too bad for an old guy.”

His final “meet” took place at The Cottages-Memory Care where he wasn’t quite able to overcome that last obstacle of dementia, but boy did he enjoy his winning team and assistant coaches better known as RN’s, CNA’s, and staff at The Cottages and ThedaCare-Hospice.

His team also included his wife, Mary, and kids, Todd, Heather, and Mike, along with so many friends, former wrestlers, Cross Country runners, assistant coaches and former students who made this meet his best race yet. Coach Allbaugh’s family is enormously grateful to everyone for their support.

A Celebration Of Life arrangements, are pending for Saturday, October 31st, at Hope Church of Shawano beginning with coffee & donuts/visitation from 9 a.m. until noon, with the celebration of life beginning at noon followed by a light luncheon. Everyone is welcome. Swedberg Funeral Home and Hope Church, both of Shawano, are assisting the family with arrangements.

To quote one of Coach Allbaugh’s favorite songs from Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, “If, when you’re running, the wind is always in your face – just keep on running, ‘cause the wind, the wind is bound to change, bound to change.”

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” – 1 Corinthians, 9:24.