Obit: Florence, James Arthur (1935 – 2005)
Poster: Crystal Wendt 

Source: The Reporter (Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, Wis.) 5 Feb. 2005

Surname: Florence, Parish, Christofferson, meilinger, Moorehead, Schlauderaff

Florence, James Arthur “Jim” (14 Dec. 1935 – 2 Feb. 2005)

James Arthur “Jim” Florence, age 69 of Neenah and formerly of Viroqua,WI, died on February 2, 2005 at the Vallhaven Care Center, Neenah. He was born Dec. 14, 1935 in Whitewater WI to Eugene and Harriet (Parish) Florence. Jim married Judy (Christofferson), but was later divorced. He was preceded in death by his mother, Harriet; his father Gene Florence and his stepmother, Janice Florence.

He is survived by his daughter, Nicole (Robert) Meilinger, Waupaca, WI; a granddaughter,Lindsey; step grandchildren: Chloe and Garrett; two brothers: Bill(Judy), Springfield, VA and John in Atlanta, GA; two sisters: Marilyn Florence, Onalaska, and Kit Moorehead, Viroqua, WI; many special friends and his cat and loyal companion, Tucker.

Jim cherished the experience of several years of his education spent in a one-room country school. Jim then attended high school in Juneau WI and graduated from Viroqua High School. He lettered in football his freshman year but was struck with polio that year which permanently impaired his mobility. Jim and his siblings lived with their grandparents for several years on a farm near Neillsville, Wis. He was an ardent trout fisherman, learning to tie flies while in high school, and actually starting up his own small business to sell them to friends and associates. Jim was also an avid sailor and loved to sail his own sailboat on Lake Winnebago. Jim worked as a radio announcer for the Viroqua and Appleton radio stations after leaving high school. In the early 1960s, Jim moved from Viroqua and established his own publishing business in Neenah. He published The Spotter, a monthly salvage auto listing that was highly regarded by Wisconsin car and insurance businesses for 31 years. Jim also ran his own antique business, The Yankee Trader in Neenah.

Visitation will be at the Westgor Funeral Home in Neenah, on Saturday February 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. with a prayer service at 4 p.m. A visitation will also be held at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua, WI on Monday, February 7th, starting at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. with Pastor Kristen Schlauderaff officiating.

Interment will be at the Moen Cemetery, near Cashton, WI. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Vallhaven for the wonderful care given to Jim. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fox Cities Visiting Nurses Association, or to an animal shelter or other charity of one’s choice.

The Westgor Funeral Home in Neenah and the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua are serving the family.