James Emmett “Jim” Meier, a former Park Ridge resident, passed away Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 in Wausau, Wis.

A Visitation Memorial will be held at Shuda Funeral Home in Stevens Point on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 from 4 PM to 7 PM. A memorial mass and internment will be held at a later date in Fort Atkinson, Wis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name are requested for the Park Ridge Wisconsin Volunteer Fire Department or Operation Bootstrap in Stevens Point, Wis.

Jim was born in Chicago, Ill. on May 24, 1933, the son of the late Carl F. and Margaret Virginia (nee Toner) Meier. He graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 1951 where he met his wife of 59 years, LouAnn (nee Behrend). They were married December 29, 1956 in Jefferson, Wis.

He served as a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force from 1953 – 1958 prior to graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1960. He began his career in insurance with Mass Mutual before joining Sentry Insurance where he was hired as the first group insurance specialist. The job at the Sentry Headquarters brought him and his family to Stevens Point in 1970.

They resided in Park Ridge until after his retirement from Sentry in 1994. Since that time Jim and LouAnn have spent their time between their home on Hagerman Lake in Iron River, Mich. and a winter home in Mimbres, NM.

He was active in the community, serving on the Park Ridge Village Board and the Park Ridge Volunteer Fire Department where he was Fire Chief prior to his retirement. He was a member of the Elks in Stevens Point and the Moose in Deming, NM as well as the American Legion. He and LouAnn were also active members of the Stevens Point Curling Club.

Jim is survived by his wife LouAnn of Iron River, Mich.; his daughters Kathleen Meier of Dallas, Texas; Marla (Jeff) Fischer of Fond du Lac; Susan (John) O’Loughlin of Madison; Christine (Jay) Wojcik of Schofield; siblings Carol Ann Angeli of Iron River, Mich.; and Richard (Elizabeth) Meier of Fort Atkinson, Wis.; brother-in-law John (Sue) Behrend of Mission, Texas; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.shudafuneral.com