Jim, our loving, caring, and precious, husband, father, and “papa”, went home to our Lord Jesus, December 21, 2018. He was surrounded by his loving family and in the care of Aspirus Hospice. Jim was born July 26, 1950 to Lester (deceased) and Melinda (Lean) Richards in Edgerton, WI.
He attended Edgerton High School. Jim married Debra Flamingo on May 5, 1972, in Janesville WI. Jim and family moved to Birnamwood in 1981.
Their marriage was blessed with four children, Cameron (Kari) Richards,… Read More » Angela Montgomery, Joshua (Tonya) Richards, and Heather (Jamie) Stautz. Their marriage has been continually blessed with 14 grandchildren, Justina, JoeDeana, Kerianna, Clay, James, Annika, Julia, Isaiah, Ethen, Benjamin, Maya, Jonathan, Layne, Aiyanna, and the blessings continue with a great-granddaughter, Braylee. Jim started his construction business, James Richards Contracting, in the late 1970’s, and at times contracted with Wausau Homes, Amwood Homes, and Wick Buildings, to name just a few.
He continued building commercial facilities and residential homes until 2004 when he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant. When Jim went into remission, in 2005, he resumed his contracting business until 2012. Jim then contracted as a recreational home delivery truck driver.
He started driving for Koeppen’s Medical Transports in 2014 and enjoyed this immensely until his cancer returned, with a vengeance, this past September 2018. When Jim wasn’t working he enjoyed fishing, caring for his farm animals and pets, bird watching, and jigsaw puzzling. Jim truly lived his life to the fullest that our Lord allowed.
Besides his wife, children and their families, Jim is survived by his mother, Melinda, sister, Minerva (Gail), 1 brother-in-law, Michael (Kathy) Flamingo, 2 sisters-in-law, Vikki ( Dave) Stone, Sherri (Larry) Resch and many nieces and nephews, and a great family friend Holly Fitting. Jim was preceded in death by his father Lester, father and mother in-law Mike and Margaret Flamingo, sister in-law and brother in-law Beverly and Ronald Teubert, 1 nephew, Anthony Flamingo and 1 great nephew, Brock Hannawell. Jim’s legacy to our children and the generations that follow isn’t justhard work and commitment; it is far more important that theyknow that he knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior ~~~~Debbi~~~~ Services will be held at Highland Community Church Weston Campus 6615 County Road JWeston, WI 54476 on January 12, 2019 10:00 AM.
Pictorial Memorial 11:00 AM. A luncheon will follow. Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family at this time.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
