JAMES KIRCHEN OBITUARY
James R. "Jim" Kirchen
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of our amazing husband, dad, grandpa, & great-grandpa, James Raymond "Jim" Kirchen. Jim passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife & children, at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI, on Sunday, February 6, 2022, after a very brief, undetermined respiratory illness.
Jim was born on October 5, 1949, to the late Raymond F. & Leona C. (Lishka) Kirchen, in Manitowoc, WI. Jim attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School in Manitowoc. He told many stories of the mischief he & his classmates got into there, and, how upset the Catholic "Sisters" would get. Despite living closer to Lincoln High School than any other student in the entire city, he was late nearly every day & was somehow proud that his Mom had to walk him to school so he wasn't late. Jim graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1967. He started working as a baker at Dick Brother's Bakery when he was just a teenager in 1965, and, worked there until they closed in 1986. He saved his hard-earned money from the bakery & bought a 1966 Pontiac GTO. Jim served as a B, C, & T Union Steward for many years. After Dick Brother's Bakery closed, he worked at a bakery in Milwaukee. But, he & Patty preferred to raise their children in a smaller town. After a few months of working in Milwaukee, Jim took a job as a Supervisor at Lakeside Foods & worked there until retiring in 2011. Because he was a baker, Jim worked odd shifts for much of his life. He was a very hard worker & took pride in providing for his family. Jim & Patty sacrificed many material things over the years in order for Patty to be able stay home with their children, which was a priority for both of them.
On October 17, 1970, Jim married the love of his life Patricia (Patty) Mae Toltzmann. As their love story goes, Jim & Patty grew up in the same neighborhood & knew each other since they were children. Patty always says he used to throw rocks at her when they were kids & he always said she thought she was better than him. They had many friends in common along the way, but, they both say they were not fond of one another, or, were they? They started dating after they were "forced" to stand up together in a friend's wedding in 1969. Their children will tell you that this banter of their love story went on throughout the years with a twinkle in both of their eyes as they would each tell their version of the story. Together they raised two amazing children, a son & a daughter, whom they were both so very proud of. Jim would always tell them that they were his "favorite son" & "favorite daughter," even though they were the only two. He then went on to call their spouses his "favorite daughter-in-law" & "favorite son-in-law."
In his younger years, Jim raised show pigeons, and, showed them throughout the state with his dad. He loved fast cars, and, was issued a speeding ticket or two over the years, and, was spared several more that should have been issued. Jim stayed active with many days & weekends of recreational softball & football, where Patty & his children were his biggest fans. He loved playing pool & darts in the local leagues. When Jim's pool team won a state championship, he was so excited that he woke his kids up in the middle of the night just to show them the trophy that was taller than his daughter! Jim & Patty enjoyed many weekends in Wisconsin Dells. They loved to take drives off of the well beaten path. They often spontaneously drove to Door County just to get Cedar Crest Ice Cream from Wilson's. His kids teased him because he lived just a few blocks from the Cedar Crest Ice Cream Plant & Parlor. But, he always said it was better at Wilson's because they put a jelly bean in the bottom of the cone. When Jim & Patty were first married, they enjoyed the occasional tent camping trip. Both of their children now enjoy camping & often invited Jim & Patty to join them, which they usually did, but for day visits or they stayed in a nearby hotel. Jim loved watching the Packers and Brewers, and, went to many games. In 2011, Jim and his son went to Super Bowl XLV in Texas, just like they always said they would if the Packers and Steelers were in it. They traveled through a snow/ice storm in the southern states to watch their favorite teams. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 706. Jim loved their annual summer vacations over the years. For many years, they went to White Earth Lake in Minnesota with Patty's sister, Jean, & her family. Jim & Patty then vacationed with family on Pike Lake near Minocqua, WI. And, just before retiring, they purchased a place at the Rustic Resort near Embarrass, WI. It is there that they spent much of their summers over the last 12 years. They loved to have their kids & grandkids visit them "at the lake." Jim always looked forward to taking everyone on a "Four Hour Tour" in his boat. When reminiscing the last few days of his life, Jim said, "My best times were spent at the lake with my family." He was his grandchildren's biggest cheerleader & his greatest joy in life was seeing them have fun at their sporting events & other activities. Jim not only went to their games, but, went to many of their practices as well. Just last week, he said, "Tell all of the kids, 'Try hard at everything you do & there will be nothing you can't do!'" Jim taught his children & grandchildren by example: how to work hard; how to manage your money; how to "listen to the janitor – he knows more than the boss"; how to love your spouse; how to love your kids; how to pull a prank! It was the little things that were truly the greatest joys for Jim. He had a mischievious twinkle in his eyes and contagious laugh that will be remembered by his family forever.
Jim is survived by his soulmate, his beautiful bride of 51 years: Patty of Manitowoc, WI; his son: James T. & Jill Kirchen of Chippewa Falls, WI; his daughter: Michelle (Mickey) & Greg Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Grandchildren: Jordan & Christina Kirchen of Cloquet, MN; Kate Kirchen & her fiancé Taylor Porrier of Chippewa Falls, WI; Charles, Emmie, & Jacob Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Great-grandchildren: Harper & Gideon Kirchen of Cloquet, MN. He is further survived by his sisters: Glenn & Barbara Schneider of Townsend, WI; Katherine Klein of Manitowoc, WI; Marilyn Rysticken of Manitowoc, WI. Patty's siblings: Richard & Joan Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Bruce Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Dale & Shelia Toltzmann of Friendship, WI; Nancy Vilhauer of Eau Claire, WI. Nieces & nephews: David, Steven, Daniel, Joseph, & Peter Schneider; Debra Risch, Amy Reinecke, & Michael Klein; Susan Oswald, Mark Rysticken, & Jennifer Kropp; David Toltzmann; Jason & Scott Toltzmann; Brian, Kevin, & Steven Toltzmann; William Longmeyer & Katie Haberman; Linda Thomas, Jeannette Kokesh, Steven Latimer, & Scott Onasch; Eric Vilhauer & Christine Berg. His feathered friend: Toto; His grand-dogs: Finn & Roscoe. And, he is further survived by many great nieces & great nephews, as well as, too many friends to mention by name.
Although we already miss him deeply, we know that Jesus took Jim's hand & guided him to Heaven. We know that Jim has been happily reunited with his parents, whom he loved & missed so much, as well as his loved ones & friends who passed before him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Ray (1986) & Leona (1975); his grandparents: Charles & Emma (Bruns) Kirchen; Wenzel & Gottfrieda (Selch) Lishka; an infant sister: Mary; Patty's parents: Earl (Smoky) & Anna (Sleger) Toltzmann; brother-in-law: James Rysticken; Patty's family: Roy Toltzmann; James & Marlene (Toltzmann) Longmeyer; Fred & Jean (Toltzmann) Onasch; Melvin Vilhauer; infant niece (daughter of Richard & Joan Toltzmann); nephew Mark Toltzmann. He was also preceded in death by aunts, uncles, & cousins. Besides his family & friends, we know that he was greeted at Heaven's gates with a plethora of unsolicited love & affection by his beloved childhood dog: Tiny; our family dogs: Pepper & Lucky; our family birds: Petey, Tweety, & Pickles; his grand-dogs: Cera, Echo, & Buddy.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. Deacon Mark Knipp will officiate with burial to take place at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Following the Funeral Service, a dinner for family and friends will be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center, located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. The family will greet relatives and friends at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Thursday, from 2 p.m. until time of the service at 4 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the to the family at .
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim's name to: Manitowoc Recreation Department, Manitowoc Youth Baseball Association, or any youth sports organization of your choice.
Jim & his family sincerely appreciate the loving & amazing care he received at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers, WI, and, at Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI. Up until his a few hours before passing, Jim was pulling pranks & joking with all of those he encountered.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
James R. "Jim" Kirchen
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of our amazing husband, dad, grandpa, & great-grandpa, James Raymond "Jim" Kirchen. Jim passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife & children, at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI, on Sunday, February 6, 2022, after a very brief, undetermined respiratory illness.
Jim was born on October 5, 1949, to the late Raymond F. & Leona C. (Lishka) Kirchen, in Manitowoc, WI. Jim attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School in Manitowoc. He told many stories of the mischief he & his classmates got into there, and, how upset the Catholic "Sisters" would get. Despite living closer to Lincoln High School than any other student in the entire city, he was late nearly every day & was somehow proud that his Mom had to walk him to school so he wasn't late. Jim graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1967. He started working as a baker at Dick Brother's Bakery when he was just a teenager in 1965, and, worked there until they closed in 1986. He saved his hard-earned money from the bakery & bought a 1966 Pontiac GTO. Jim served as a B, C, & T Union Steward for many years. After Dick Brother's Bakery closed, he worked at a bakery in Milwaukee. But, he & Patty preferred to raise their children in a smaller town. After a few months of working in Milwaukee, Jim took a job as a Supervisor at Lakeside Foods & worked there until retiring in 2011. Because he was a baker, Jim worked odd shifts for much of his life. He was a very hard worker & took pride in providing for his family. Jim & Patty sacrificed many material things over the years in order for Patty to be able stay home with their children, which was a priority for both of them.
On October 17, 1970, Jim married the love of his life Patricia (Patty) Mae Toltzmann. As their love story goes, Jim & Patty grew up in the same neighborhood & knew each other since they were children. Patty always says he used to throw rocks at her when they were kids & he always said she thought she was better than him. They had many friends in common along the way, but, they both say they were not fond of one another, or, were they? They started dating after they were "forced" to stand up together in a friend's wedding in 1969. Their children will tell you that this banter of their love story went on throughout the years with a twinkle in both of their eyes as they would each tell their version of the story. Together they raised two amazing children, a son & a daughter, whom they were both so very proud of. Jim would always tell them that they were his "favorite son" & "favorite daughter," even though they were the only two. He then went on to call their spouses his "favorite daughter-in-law" & "favorite son-in-law."
In his younger years, Jim raised show pigeons, and, showed them throughout the state with his dad. He loved fast cars, and, was issued a speeding ticket or two over the years, and, was spared several more that should have been issued. Jim stayed active with many days & weekends of recreational softball & football, where Patty & his children were his biggest fans. He loved playing pool & darts in the local leagues. When Jim's pool team won a state championship, he was so excited that he woke his kids up in the middle of the night just to show them the trophy that was taller than his daughter! Jim & Patty enjoyed many weekends in Wisconsin Dells. They loved to take drives off of the well beaten path. They often spontaneously drove to Door County just to get Cedar Crest Ice Cream from Wilson's. His kids teased him because he lived just a few blocks from the Cedar Crest Ice Cream Plant & Parlor. But, he always said it was better at Wilson's because they put a jelly bean in the bottom of the cone. When Jim & Patty were first married, they enjoyed the occasional tent camping trip. Both of their children now enjoy camping & often invited Jim & Patty to join them, which they usually did, but for day visits or they stayed in a nearby hotel. Jim loved watching the Packers and Brewers, and, went to many games. In 2011, Jim and his son went to Super Bowl XLV in Texas, just like they always said they would if the Packers and Steelers were in it. They traveled through a snow/ice storm in the southern states to watch their favorite teams. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 706. Jim loved their annual summer vacations over the years. For many years, they went to White Earth Lake in Minnesota with Patty's sister, Jean, & her family. Jim & Patty then vacationed with family on Pike Lake near Minocqua, WI. And, just before retiring, they purchased a place at the Rustic Resort near Embarrass, WI. It is there that they spent much of their summers over the last 12 years. They loved to have their kids & grandkids visit them "at the lake." Jim always looked forward to taking everyone on a "Four Hour Tour" in his boat. When reminiscing the last few days of his life, Jim said, "My best times were spent at the lake with my family." He was his grandchildren's biggest cheerleader & his greatest joy in life was seeing them have fun at their sporting events & other activities. Jim not only went to their games, but, went to many of their practices as well. Just last week, he said, "Tell all of the kids, 'Try hard at everything you do & there will be nothing you can't do!'" Jim taught his children & grandchildren by example: how to work hard; how to manage your money; how to "listen to the janitor – he knows more than the boss"; how to love your spouse; how to love your kids; how to pull a prank! It was the little things that were truly the greatest joys for Jim. He had a mischievious twinkle in his eyes and contagious laugh that will be remembered by his family forever.
Jim is survived by his soulmate, his beautiful bride of 51 years: Patty of Manitowoc, WI; his son: James T. & Jill Kirchen of Chippewa Falls, WI; his daughter: Michelle (Mickey) & Greg Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Grandchildren: Jordan & Christina Kirchen of Cloquet, MN; Kate Kirchen & her fiancé Taylor Porrier of Chippewa Falls, WI; Charles, Emmie, & Jacob Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Great-grandchildren: Harper & Gideon Kirchen of Cloquet, MN. He is further survived by his sisters: Glenn & Barbara Schneider of Townsend, WI; Katherine Klein of Manitowoc, WI; Marilyn Rysticken of Manitowoc, WI. Patty's siblings: Richard & Joan Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Bruce Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Dale & Shelia Toltzmann of Friendship, WI; Nancy Vilhauer of Eau Claire, WI. Nieces & nephews: David, Steven, Daniel, Joseph, & Peter Schneider; Debra Risch, Amy Reinecke, & Michael Klein; Susan Oswald, Mark Rysticken, & Jennifer Kropp; David Toltzmann; Jason & Scott Toltzmann; Brian, Kevin, & Steven Toltzmann; William Longmeyer & Katie Haberman; Linda Thomas, Jeannette Kokesh, Steven Latimer, & Scott Onasch; Eric Vilhauer & Christine Berg. His feathered friend: Toto; His grand-dogs: Finn & Roscoe. And, he is further survived by many great nieces & great nephews, as well as, too many friends to mention by name.
Although we already miss him deeply, we know that Jesus took Jim's hand & guided him to Heaven. We know that Jim has been happily reunited with his parents, whom he loved & missed so much, as well as his loved ones & friends who passed before him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Ray (1986) & Leona (1975); his grandparents: Charles & Emma (Bruns) Kirchen; Wenzel & Gottfrieda (Selch) Lishka; an infant sister: Mary; Patty's parents: Earl (Smoky) & Anna (Sleger) Toltzmann; brother-in-law: James Rysticken; Patty's family: Roy Toltzmann; James & Marlene (Toltzmann) Longmeyer; Fred & Jean (Toltzmann) Onasch; Melvin Vilhauer; infant niece (daughter of Richard & Joan Toltzmann); nephew Mark Toltzmann. He was also preceded in death by aunts, uncles, & cousins. Besides his family & friends, we know that he was greeted at Heaven's gates with a plethora of unsolicited love & affection by his beloved childhood dog: Tiny; our family dogs: Pepper & Lucky; our family birds: Petey, Tweety, & Pickles; his grand-dogs: Cera, Echo, & Buddy.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. Deacon Mark Knipp will officiate with burial to take place at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Following the Funeral Service, a dinner for family and friends will be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center, located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. The family will greet relatives and friends at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Thursday, from 2 p.m. until time of the service at 4 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the to the family at .
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim's name to: Manitowoc Recreation Department, Manitowoc Youth Baseball Association, or any youth sports organization of your choice.
Jim & his family sincerely appreciate the loving & amazing care he received at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers, WI, and, at Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI. Up until his a few hours before passing, Jim was pulling pranks & joking with all of those he encountered.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
JAMES KIRCHEN OBITUARY
James R. "Jim" Kirchen
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of our amazing husband, dad, grandpa, & great-grandpa, James Raymond "Jim" Kirchen. Jim passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife & children, at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI, on Sunday, February 6, 2022, after a very brief, undetermined respiratory illness.
Jim was born on October 5, 1949, to the late Raymond F. & Leona C. (Lishka) Kirchen, in Manitowoc, WI. Jim attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School in Manitowoc. He told many stories of the mischief he & his classmates got into there, and, how upset the Catholic "Sisters" would get. Despite living closer to Lincoln High School than any other student in the entire city, he was late nearly every day & was somehow proud that his Mom had to walk him to school so he wasn't late. Jim graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1967. He started working as a baker at Dick Brother's Bakery when he was just a teenager in 1965, and, worked there until they closed in 1986. He saved his hard-earned money from the bakery & bought a 1966 Pontiac GTO. Jim served as a B, C, & T Union Steward for many years. After Dick Brother's Bakery closed, he worked at a bakery in Milwaukee. But, he & Patty preferred to raise their children in a smaller town. After a few months of working in Milwaukee, Jim took a job as a Supervisor at Lakeside Foods & worked there until retiring in 2011. Because he was a baker, Jim worked odd shifts for much of his life. He was a very hard worker & took pride in providing for his family. Jim & Patty sacrificed many material things over the years in order for Patty to be able stay home with their children, which was a priority for both of them.
On October 17, 1970, Jim married the love of his life Patricia (Patty) Mae Toltzmann. As their love story goes, Jim & Patty grew up in the same neighborhood & knew each other since they were children. Patty always says he used to throw rocks at her when they were kids & he always said she thought she was better than him. They had many friends in common along the way, but, they both say they were not fond of one another, or, were they? They started dating after they were "forced" to stand up together in a friend's wedding in 1969. Their children will tell you that this banter of their love story went on throughout the years with a twinkle in both of their eyes as they would each tell their version of the story. Together they raised two amazing children, a son & a daughter, whom they were both so very proud of. Jim would always tell them that they were his "favorite son" & "favorite daughter," even though they were the only two. He then went on to call their spouses his "favorite daughter-in-law" & "favorite son-in-law."
In his younger years, Jim raised show pigeons, and, showed them throughout the state with his dad. He loved fast cars, and, was issued a speeding ticket or two over the years, and, was spared several more that should have been issued. Jim stayed active with many days & weekends of recreational softball & football, where Patty & his children were his biggest fans. He loved playing pool & darts in the local leagues. When Jim's pool team won a state championship, he was so excited that he woke his kids up in the middle of the night just to show them the trophy that was taller than his daughter! Jim & Patty enjoyed many weekends in Wisconsin Dells. They loved to take drives off of the well beaten path. They often spontaneously drove to Door County just to get Cedar Crest Ice Cream from Wilson's. His kids teased him because he lived just a few blocks from the Cedar Crest Ice Cream Plant & Parlor. But, he always said it was better at Wilson's because they put a jelly bean in the bottom of the cone. When Jim & Patty were first married, they enjoyed the occasional tent camping trip. Both of their children now enjoy camping & often invited Jim & Patty to join them, which they usually did, but for day visits or they stayed in a nearby hotel. Jim loved watching the Packers and Brewers, and, went to many games. In 2011, Jim and his son went to Super Bowl XLV in Texas, just like they always said they would if the Packers and Steelers were in it. They traveled through a snow/ice storm in the southern states to watch their favorite teams. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 706. Jim loved their annual summer vacations over the years. For many years, they went to White Earth Lake in Minnesota with Patty's sister, Jean, & her family. Jim & Patty then vacationed with family on Pike Lake near Minocqua, WI. And, just before retiring, they purchased a place at the Rustic Resort near Embarrass, WI. It is there that they spent much of their summers over the last 12 years. They loved to have their kids & grandkids visit them "at the lake." Jim always looked forward to taking everyone on a "Four Hour Tour" in his boat. When reminiscing the last few days of his life, Jim said, "My best times were spent at the lake with my family." He was his grandchildren's biggest cheerleader & his greatest joy in life was seeing them have fun at their sporting events & other activities. Jim not only went to their games, but, went to many of their practices as well. Just last week, he said, "Tell all of the kids, 'Try hard at everything you do & there will be nothing you can't do!'" Jim taught his children & grandchildren by example: how to work hard; how to manage your money; how to "listen to the janitor – he knows more than the boss"; how to love your spouse; how to love your kids; how to pull a prank! It was the little things that were truly the greatest joys for Jim. He had a mischievious twinkle in his eyes and contagious laugh that will be remembered by his family forever.
Jim is survived by his soulmate, his beautiful bride of 51 years: Patty of Manitowoc, WI; his son: James T. & Jill Kirchen of Chippewa Falls, WI; his daughter: Michelle (Mickey) & Greg Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Grandchildren: Jordan & Christina Kirchen of Cloquet, MN; Kate Kirchen & her fiancé Taylor Porrier of Chippewa Falls, WI; Charles, Emmie, & Jacob Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Great-grandchildren: Harper & Gideon Kirchen of Cloquet, MN. He is further survived by his sisters: Glenn & Barbara Schneider of Townsend, WI; Katherine Klein of Manitowoc, WI; Marilyn Rysticken of Manitowoc, WI. Patty's siblings: Richard & Joan Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Bruce Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Dale & Shelia Toltzmann of Friendship, WI; Nancy Vilhauer of Eau Claire, WI. Nieces & nephews: David, Steven, Daniel, Joseph, & Peter Schneider; Debra Risch, Amy Reinecke, & Michael Klein; Susan Oswald, Mark Rysticken, & Jennifer Kropp; David Toltzmann; Jason & Scott Toltzmann; Brian, Kevin, & Steven Toltzmann; William Longmeyer & Katie Haberman; Linda Thomas, Jeannette Kokesh, Steven Latimer, & Scott Onasch; Eric Vilhauer & Christine Berg. His feathered friend: Toto; His grand-dogs: Finn & Roscoe. And, he is further survived by many great nieces & great nephews, as well as, too many friends to mention by name.
Although we already miss him deeply, we know that Jesus took Jim's hand & guided him to Heaven. We know that Jim has been happily reunited with his parents, whom he loved & missed so much, as well as his loved ones & friends who passed before him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Ray (1986) & Leona (1975); his grandparents: Charles & Emma (Bruns) Kirchen; Wenzel & Gottfrieda (Selch) Lishka; an infant sister: Mary; Patty's parents: Earl (Smoky) & Anna (Sleger) Toltzmann; brother-in-law: James Rysticken; Patty's family: Roy Toltzmann; James & Marlene (Toltzmann) Longmeyer; Fred & Jean (Toltzmann) Onasch; Melvin Vilhauer; infant niece (daughter of Richard & Joan Toltzmann); nephew Mark Toltzmann. He was also preceded in death by aunts, uncles, & cousins. Besides his family & friends, we know that he was greeted at Heaven's gates with a plethora of unsolicited love & affection by his beloved childhood dog: Tiny; our family dogs: Pepper & Lucky; our family birds: Petey, Tweety, & Pickles; his grand-dogs: Cera, Echo, & Buddy.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. Deacon Mark Knipp will officiate with burial to take place at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Following the Funeral Service, a dinner for family and friends will be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center, located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. The family will greet relatives and friends at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Thursday, from 2 p.m. until time of the service at 4 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the to the family at .
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim's name to: Manitowoc Recreation Department, Manitowoc Youth Baseball Association, or any youth sports organization of your choice.
Jim & his family sincerely appreciate the loving & amazing care he received at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers, WI, and, at Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI. Up until his a few hours before passing, Jim was pulling pranks & joking with all of those he encountered.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
James R. "Jim" Kirchen
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of our amazing husband, dad, grandpa, & great-grandpa, James Raymond "Jim" Kirchen. Jim passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife & children, at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI, on Sunday, February 6, 2022, after a very brief, undetermined respiratory illness.
Jim was born on October 5, 1949, to the late Raymond F. & Leona C. (Lishka) Kirchen, in Manitowoc, WI. Jim attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School in Manitowoc. He told many stories of the mischief he & his classmates got into there, and, how upset the Catholic "Sisters" would get. Despite living closer to Lincoln High School than any other student in the entire city, he was late nearly every day & was somehow proud that his Mom had to walk him to school so he wasn't late. Jim graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1967. He started working as a baker at Dick Brother's Bakery when he was just a teenager in 1965, and, worked there until they closed in 1986. He saved his hard-earned money from the bakery & bought a 1966 Pontiac GTO. Jim served as a B, C, & T Union Steward for many years. After Dick Brother's Bakery closed, he worked at a bakery in Milwaukee. But, he & Patty preferred to raise their children in a smaller town. After a few months of working in Milwaukee, Jim took a job as a Supervisor at Lakeside Foods & worked there until retiring in 2011. Because he was a baker, Jim worked odd shifts for much of his life. He was a very hard worker & took pride in providing for his family. Jim & Patty sacrificed many material things over the years in order for Patty to be able stay home with their children, which was a priority for both of them.
On October 17, 1970, Jim married the love of his life Patricia (Patty) Mae Toltzmann. As their love story goes, Jim & Patty grew up in the same neighborhood & knew each other since they were children. Patty always says he used to throw rocks at her when they were kids & he always said she thought she was better than him. They had many friends in common along the way, but, they both say they were not fond of one another, or, were they? They started dating after they were "forced" to stand up together in a friend's wedding in 1969. Their children will tell you that this banter of their love story went on throughout the years with a twinkle in both of their eyes as they would each tell their version of the story. Together they raised two amazing children, a son & a daughter, whom they were both so very proud of. Jim would always tell them that they were his "favorite son" & "favorite daughter," even though they were the only two. He then went on to call their spouses his "favorite daughter-in-law" & "favorite son-in-law."
In his younger years, Jim raised show pigeons, and, showed them throughout the state with his dad. He loved fast cars, and, was issued a speeding ticket or two over the years, and, was spared several more that should have been issued. Jim stayed active with many days & weekends of recreational softball & football, where Patty & his children were his biggest fans. He loved playing pool & darts in the local leagues. When Jim's pool team won a state championship, he was so excited that he woke his kids up in the middle of the night just to show them the trophy that was taller than his daughter! Jim & Patty enjoyed many weekends in Wisconsin Dells. They loved to take drives off of the well beaten path. They often spontaneously drove to Door County just to get Cedar Crest Ice Cream from Wilson's. His kids teased him because he lived just a few blocks from the Cedar Crest Ice Cream Plant & Parlor. But, he always said it was better at Wilson's because they put a jelly bean in the bottom of the cone. When Jim & Patty were first married, they enjoyed the occasional tent camping trip. Both of their children now enjoy camping & often invited Jim & Patty to join them, which they usually did, but for day visits or they stayed in a nearby hotel. Jim loved watching the Packers and Brewers, and, went to many games. In 2011, Jim and his son went to Super Bowl XLV in Texas, just like they always said they would if the Packers and Steelers were in it. They traveled through a snow/ice storm in the southern states to watch their favorite teams. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 706. Jim loved their annual summer vacations over the years. For many years, they went to White Earth Lake in Minnesota with Patty's sister, Jean, & her family. Jim & Patty then vacationed with family on Pike Lake near Minocqua, WI. And, just before retiring, they purchased a place at the Rustic Resort near Embarrass, WI. It is there that they spent much of their summers over the last 12 years. They loved to have their kids & grandkids visit them "at the lake." Jim always looked forward to taking everyone on a "Four Hour Tour" in his boat. When reminiscing the last few days of his life, Jim said, "My best times were spent at the lake with my family." He was his grandchildren's biggest cheerleader & his greatest joy in life was seeing them have fun at their sporting events & other activities. Jim not only went to their games, but, went to many of their practices as well. Just last week, he said, "Tell all of the kids, 'Try hard at everything you do & there will be nothing you can't do!'" Jim taught his children & grandchildren by example: how to work hard; how to manage your money; how to "listen to the janitor – he knows more than the boss"; how to love your spouse; how to love your kids; how to pull a prank! It was the little things that were truly the greatest joys for Jim. He had a mischievious twinkle in his eyes and contagious laugh that will be remembered by his family forever.
Jim is survived by his soulmate, his beautiful bride of 51 years: Patty of Manitowoc, WI; his son: James T. & Jill Kirchen of Chippewa Falls, WI; his daughter: Michelle (Mickey) & Greg Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Grandchildren: Jordan & Christina Kirchen of Cloquet, MN; Kate Kirchen & her fiancé Taylor Porrier of Chippewa Falls, WI; Charles, Emmie, & Jacob Shea of Manitowoc, WI. Great-grandchildren: Harper & Gideon Kirchen of Cloquet, MN. He is further survived by his sisters: Glenn & Barbara Schneider of Townsend, WI; Katherine Klein of Manitowoc, WI; Marilyn Rysticken of Manitowoc, WI. Patty's siblings: Richard & Joan Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Bruce Toltzmann of Green Valley, AZ; Dale & Shelia Toltzmann of Friendship, WI; Nancy Vilhauer of Eau Claire, WI. Nieces & nephews: David, Steven, Daniel, Joseph, & Peter Schneider; Debra Risch, Amy Reinecke, & Michael Klein; Susan Oswald, Mark Rysticken, & Jennifer Kropp; David Toltzmann; Jason & Scott Toltzmann; Brian, Kevin, & Steven Toltzmann; William Longmeyer & Katie Haberman; Linda Thomas, Jeannette Kokesh, Steven Latimer, & Scott Onasch; Eric Vilhauer & Christine Berg. His feathered friend: Toto; His grand-dogs: Finn & Roscoe. And, he is further survived by many great nieces & great nephews, as well as, too many friends to mention by name.
Although we already miss him deeply, we know that Jesus took Jim's hand & guided him to Heaven. We know that Jim has been happily reunited with his parents, whom he loved & missed so much, as well as his loved ones & friends who passed before him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Ray (1986) & Leona (1975); his grandparents: Charles & Emma (Bruns) Kirchen; Wenzel & Gottfrieda (Selch) Lishka; an infant sister: Mary; Patty's parents: Earl (Smoky) & Anna (Sleger) Toltzmann; brother-in-law: James Rysticken; Patty's family: Roy Toltzmann; James & Marlene (Toltzmann) Longmeyer; Fred & Jean (Toltzmann) Onasch; Melvin Vilhauer; infant niece (daughter of Richard & Joan Toltzmann); nephew Mark Toltzmann. He was also preceded in death by aunts, uncles, & cousins. Besides his family & friends, we know that he was greeted at Heaven's gates with a plethora of unsolicited love & affection by his beloved childhood dog: Tiny; our family dogs: Pepper & Lucky; our family birds: Petey, Tweety, & Pickles; his grand-dogs: Cera, Echo, & Buddy.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. Deacon Mark Knipp will officiate with burial to take place at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Following the Funeral Service, a dinner for family and friends will be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center, located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home. The family will greet relatives and friends at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Thursday, from 2 p.m. until time of the service at 4 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the to the family at .
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim's name to: Manitowoc Recreation Department, Manitowoc Youth Baseball Association, or any youth sports organization of your choice.
Jim & his family sincerely appreciate the loving & amazing care he received at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers, WI, and, at Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay, WI. Up until his a few hours before passing, Jim was pulling pranks & joking with all of those he encountered.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
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