James Charles Hegbloom

SUN CITY, Fla. - James Charles Hegbloom, 83, former resident of Saxon, Wis., died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, in Sun City.

He was born May 15, 1933, in Rhinelander, Wis., son of the late Vanner and Eva (Myers) Hegbloom. He graduated from Saxon high school in 1951 and was number 7 on the 1949 Saxon Knights basketball team that was inducted into the Hurley Athletic Hall of Fame in July, 2016.

He served in the Korean War from 1953 to 1957 as an Army cook. He married Barbara Betty Carlson, who preceded him in death Sept. 20, 1978. He then married Jeanne M. Hubbard, who preceded him in death on July 19, 1997.

He retired from the City of Ashland as Public Works Director in 1992 and shortly after moved back to Saxon, where he was an active member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and belonged to the St. Ann's Service Club. He was a member of American Legion WI Post 371, the VFW and the Elks Club.

He loved to cook, garden, do-it-yourself projects, carpentry, mowing the church lawn, working at the county fair, watching the Packers on Sundays and Monday Night Football, and to laugh and tell stories. He and his companion for the last 17 years, Elaine Jack, moved to Florida in February 2014 to be closer to his daughters due to declining health.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Viola Swartz, Cecelia "Punky" Sherrell, Anna Mae Dennis, and Gene and Vanner Hegbloom; and son, Donald Glenn Hudson.

Surviving are two sons, Randy (Karie) Hudson, Mason, Wis., and Kurt (Margaret) Krall, Saxon; two daughters, Ann Marie (Kirk) Douglas, Valrico, and Jamie Hegbloom Cutlip, Bradenton; his companion, Elaine Jack, Mineola, Texas; nine grandchildren, Laura Hudson, Olivia Hudson, Wendy Krall, Tabitha Krall, Angela (Carlos) Corbett, Michelle Johnson, Kalisa Jack, Courtney Kraft and Brooke (Kenney) Baez; four stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

We wish to sincerely thank Paul Spinler, a faithful and devoted friend from St. Stephens Catholic church in Brandon, and Dr. Chris Nussbaum, of Concierge Care, Brandon, for the outstanding care he and his staff provided to James and his daughters the duration of his time in Florida, as well as to Elaine.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 26, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Saxon with Rev. Frank Kordek, celebrant, with visitation at 10 a.m., and Mass at 11 a.m. Rite of Committal for immediate family only will be directly following Mass at Lakeview Cemetery, Saxon.

Cremation services provided by Neptune Society.

Potluck luncheon will be served at the Saxon Community Center following Mass. Contact Debbie Swartz at 715-893-2485 to sign up to contribute food or to help with setup, clean up etc.

In lieu of flowers we ask for donations to St. Ann's Service Club, P.O. Box 173, Saxon, WI 54559.