James Culver

VISITATION

4-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 25 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and from 10-11 a.m., Thursday, March 26 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1300 Mansfield St., Chippewa Falls.

SERVICES

11 a.m., Thursday, March 26 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1300 Mansfield St., Chippewa Falls.

James A. "Jim" Culver, 70, of Chippewa Falls, town of Lafayette, died Thursday, March 19, 2015 at home surrounded by his loving family and under the care of Mayo Clinic Hospice.

He was born November 26, 1944 in Rochester, Minnesota to Lydia (Wittlief) and Carl Culver. He grew up in Oronoco, Minnesota. He attended a one room country school in Coon Grove until he was in the 8th grade. Jim graduated from Mazeppa High School in 1962. He graduated from Winona Technical College in 1964, earning a degree in Machine Tool and Die.

In 1965, he enlisted in the US Navy and served on the USS Amphion and USS Eugene A. Greene until being honorably discharged in 1968.

Jim married Jackie Symons in 1967 and together they had three children. They later divorced.

After the Navy, Jim held several jobs in the Tool and Die Industry. He worked in Stockton, Minnesota, Kokomo, Indiana, and LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He worked for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa for a short time, then in 1984, moved to Chippewa Falls to work for Cray Research, where he helped develop the machining center and managed it for several years. He then worked at Hutchinson Technology until he retired in 2006.

In 1995 Jim married Judy Gorell at the Chapel of Love in the Mall of America.

Jim enjoyed traveling, riding ATV, making fishing poles, fishing with his son-in-laws and grandchildren, camping, telling stories around the campfire, and watching his grandkids in all their activities. He loved adventure and lived life to the fullest. He will be remembered by his friends as the "kindest, most caring person they have ever known". He was a true friend and his smile and laughter will be sadly missed.

He was a member of the American Legion and the Chippewa Valley ATV Club and volunteered with the American Red Cross.

Survivors include his wife Judy; two daughters, Jamie (Brent) Mueller of Chippewa Falls, Janelle (Bob) Martin of Eau Claire; a son, Jeremy (Denise) Culver of Queens, New York; two step-daughters, Pamela (Duane) Lammers, Tricia (Scott) Tambornino all of Chippewa Falls; a step-son, Paul (Karla) Roach of Chippewa Falls; a sister, Linda (Jim) Schull of Medford, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Derek and Kyle Mueller, Tia, Aaron and Jessa Martin, Olivia Culver; nine step-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Andrew Lynch, Hannah and Nadia Tambornino, Ethan, Anthony, Marcus, Tessa and Ryan Roach.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 26 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Paul Oppedahl officiating. Interment with military honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council will be at Prairie View Cemetery, Village of Lake Hallie.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's honor may go to Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1300 Mansfield St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.

AFTERSERVICE

A funeral service for James A. "Jim" Culver of Chippewa Falls, town of Lafayette was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 26 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls. The Rev. Paul Oppedahl officiated and communion assistants were grandchildren, Derek and Kyle Mueller, Jeffrey and Andrew Lynch. Derek Mueller also shared personal reflections. Music was provided by keyboardist, Barbara Sandford and vocalists Ron Buckles and Nikki Harper.

Internment with military rites conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council was at Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie with Taps bugled by Laurie Francis. Casket bearers were Arnie Bowe, Swede Dalhoe, Mike Jacobson, Denny Stubbe, Brad Hilton and Arlan Bergquist.

Wednesday evening members of the American Legion Post 77, Harry Bauer and Larry Werner led family and friends in a prayer service at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel.