James Flanigan

James Hoover Flanigan was born in Mountain Lake, Minnesota on July 18th, 1929 to Robert and Lauretta Hoover Flanigan. Jim grew up in rural Frederic, Wisconsin where he lived with his grandparents, Bill and Anna Hoover. He graduated from Frederic High School in 1947 in the same class as his future wife, Wanda Mae Peterson. He and Wanda were married on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1951 in Clam Falls, Wisconsin. Jim was drafted into the US Army in 1951 and stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. After basic training, Wanda joined him and they lived in Belton, Texas. When Jim was stationed in Germany for about one year Wanda returned to her home in Clam Falls. After his discharge from the Army the two lived in the Frederic area, where their four children were born. In 1957 Jim attended the State Patrol Academy and was assigned to work as a State Trooper in Poynette, Wisconsin where the family lived for four years. In 1961 he began to work for the Wisconsin Conservation Department as a Game Warden, a career he loved. He was first stationed in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin then transferred back to his home area in l965 and was assigned to work in Burnett County. The family lived in Siren, Wisconsin on Clear Lake in a home they rented for twenty five dollars a month. In 1975 Jim was honored with the Haskell Noyes "Outstanding Warden" award recognizing his record of service to the State of Wisconsin and residents of Burnett County. It was an honor he received with humility and appreciation. After the children were out of school Jim and Wanda built a home on Big Sand Lake where they resided for thirty years. Jim and Wanda's home on Big Sand Lake was a gathering place for family and friends over the years and home to children and grandchildren on weekends, holidays and summer weeks. Grandma and Grandpa spent time swimming, fishing, boating and playing, creating memories that will last a lifetime. In 1989 Jim retired after more than thirty years of service. Jim was pleased when his brother Bob and wife Jean returned to Wisconsin when Bob retired. Jim served on the Bethany Church Council and he was a member of the Siren American Legion. He was a charter member of the Webster Lion?s Club and later a charter member of the Siren Lion?s Club. Jim taught gun safety for many years. He helped organize the first Siren Snowmobile Club. He was active in the acquisition of the railroad bed for snowmobiling. Jim had a lifelong interest in cars and trucks which expanded to include racing, snowmobiling and traveling in a motor home. He loved auto racing all his life, following friends and family locally at dirt tracks and nationally in Indy racing. He was a devoted snowmobiler often acting as guide for friends and family trips through his beloved Burnett County. After retirement he and Wanda enjoyed the motor home on the open road, traveling to new sites and visiting friends and family. They traveled mostly in the winter, leaving every year after the basketball season was over and snowmobiling soon to end. In 2007 they moved from Big Sand Lake back to Siren, built a home very near where they first lived on Clear Lake. The last five months Jim was at the Frederic Care Center where Wanda also spent most of every day. The care Jim received was especially kind and friendly. Jim is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Wanda; children, Colleen (Roger) Skold of Eau Claire, Jim (Bev) Flanigan of Siren, Patricia (Dan) Olson of Milltown, Peggy (Joel) Weddle of Mehama, Oregon; grand-children, Shaw (Jessica) Mead, Erin Skold (Terry Gibbs), Erik (Martha) Skold, Jimmy and Caitlin Flanigan, Seth, Megan, and Dane Olson, Joel (Holly), Jamie, Lee, and Lindsey Weddle; and great-grandchildren, Mae and Isak Skold, Kayla Mead and Lilly Weddle; sister Pat (Tom) Gemza; sisters-in-law Jean Flanigan and LaVonne Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Flanigan and Lauretta Mailhoit and brother Robert Flanigan.