James C. "Jim" Beitzel, passed away July 23, 2024.  Jim was born to duck hunt and fish and did so with a passion until the end.  He was born September 23, 1935, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan, where he fished trout and salmon from his 12 ft hand painted camo duck boat.  Jim graduated from Manitowoc Lincoln High School.  Many mornings before school, he would go duck hunting with friends after which he would store his shotgun in his school locker.  It sure was a different world 88 years ago.  Jim had many jobs in his youth, starting with delivering papers, spotting pins in the bowling alley and working at Sindelar's Bakery, while also doing chores at Beitzel's Bar, owned by his parents, where one of his jobs was cleaning the spittoons.  In 1955 Jim was united in marriage to Pauline Gallenburger. Jim's career working for Wisconsin Bell began in May 1956, putting in the dial system in the Fond du Lac area.  Over his 37-year career with the telephone company, Jim's work took him to many different areas in Wisconsin and out of state. In 1987 Jim married Sandra Stears and in 2007, he and his wife, Sandi, moved to Shawano so they could enjoy their retirement bluegill fishing.  Jim will be remembered as the best fishing buddy a wife could have.  His love of wildlife and natural resources was passed on to his children.  Being a duck hunter, Jim was an avid Ducks Unlimited major donor and volunteer.  In 2008, he was recognized as Wisconsin DU's Conservationist of the Year.  There is also a restoration project in Brillion Killsnake marsh dedicated in his name.  Jim enjoyed his years as a member of the Rochea Hunting Club and retired lifetime member of the Oxbow Sportsmen's Club.  A habit of Jim's would be to load his pockets with chestnut tree seeds which he planted across the landscape when he would upland game hunt.  For approximately 40 years, Jim and Sandi traveled to North Dakota in October to duck hunt. During that time, he made many close friends who have now become a part of his extended family.

Jim is survived by his wife, Sandra; children, Tony (Lynn) Beitzel, Cindee (Steve) Schuetz, Steven Beitzel and Cherie Peterman; three grandchildren, Tony (Michong) Beitzel, II, Tara (John) Filipek, and Desiree (Chance) Bentley; three great grandchildren; as well as a niece, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Jim is preceded in death by; his parents Harold and Lillian (Hansen) Beitzel; his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Corrine Beitzel; and his former wife and mother of his children, Pauline.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of donations, the family requests the planting of a tree to leave a legacy in Jim Beitzel's memory.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Unity Hospice for the wonderful care given to Jim.