James "Jim" Reesman

James “Jim” Louis Reesman of Wauwatosa, WI, and formerly of Jackson, WI, Milwaukee, WI, and Waterford, WI, passed away at Froedtert Hospital on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at the age of 77. In his final days he suffered from blood clots in his legs and lungs and a debilitating brain bleed stroke. He was surrounded by loved ones who grew to understand the left-hand squeezes he used to communicate until just a few hours before his spirit left his body. His spirit lives on in those who loved him and whose lives he touched.

Jim was born on July 16, 1947 to Louis and Cecilia Reesman (nee Koenigs) in Burlington, WI. He grew up in Waterford, attending St. Thomas Acquinas parish and grade school. At age 14, he entered St. Francis de Sales Preparatory Seminary in St. Francis, WI to begin preparing to become a priest. After high school, he continued his education there graduating from college with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and completing one year of graduate studies in Theology. After deciding he wasn’t called to the priesthood, he continued his education, earning a teaching certificate, which prepared him for his first career as a grade school teacher.

Jim met Lynn Ann Wachniak at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Milwaukee where they both taught high school religious education and served on a retreat team that introduced many juniors and seniors to spiritual reflection. The parish remained an important part of their lives as Jim and Lynn Ann were married there on April 8, 1972. They continued to worship there as their children attended the parish school. They later actively participated in parish life at Gesu Church in Milwaukee. In 2007 Jim and Lynn Ann moved to Jackson, WI where they were both active at St. Gabriel Parish in Hubertus. After suffering his first stroke in 2022, Jim was well cared for by the staff of Serenity Villa in Slinger. In July of 2024, Jim and Lynn Ann were very happy to be back together again after moving to St. Camillus in Wauwatosa.

Jim’s career journey provided him a wealth of experiences and opportunities. After receiving his teaching certificate, he taught in Catholic grade schools for seven years, but then worked at Miller Brewery for six years to better support his growing family. After that, he found his true career calling as a successful salesman of Eight O’ Clock coffee for 18 years. He built up his brand and his sales through personal engagement with store managers, coffee aisle curators, and other decision makers who played a role in product placement and promotion. A true “people person,” he greeted individuals by name, making them feel valued and appreciated. He built strong relationships by encouraging contacts to share on a personal level what mattered most to them. The business growth Jim fostered with his team led to esteemed sales awards. Most importantly, Jim became a distinct friend to his supervisor, Mike Farrell, who saw Jim as a role model both personally and professionally.

Jim’s love of interacting with people extended to all areas of his life. Whether with his family, cherished just-met new or lifelong friends, he exhibited a genuine interest in everyone with whom he interacted. He deeply loved his family and celebrated their accomplishments. He remembered birthdays and anniversaries with snail mail cards. He would frequently check in just to see how family members were doing or to follow up after both happy or challenging events. He didn’t love new technology, but tried his darnedest to use it as it enabled him to stay in touch with loved ones. He was a compassionate, thoughtful listener who asked hard soul-seeking questions and was quick to dispense hugs no matter what the occasion. He was a spectator at sporting events of his children and grandchildren and made himself available to others for planned or spur of the moment needs, including many hours of Grandpa babysitting of grandchildren. Jim often engaged with people he met while out and about in the community. His propensity for engaging new people took on a whole new dimension when one son-in-law challenged him to find people from all 50 states at Disney World! He engaged folks in every long line! Also in retirement, Jim loved taking cruises with his beloved wife as there were always new places to see and new people to meet. Together they cruised Alaska, the Caribbean east, west and south, Mexico, central America, the Panama Canal twice, Europe traveling as far east as St. Petersburg, New Zealand and their favorite: six visits to Hawaii.

Jim had many other great passions in life. He loved Wisconsin sports, especially the Milwaukee Braves, idolizing Eddie Mathews while growing up, then rooting for the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Milwaukee Brewers. On the day Jim died, Christian Yelich hit his first and only grand slam walk-off home run and family would not be surprised if Jim had something to do with that. Jim had an unrivaled passion for golf and would always find time for another round no matter the time of day or the weather. He golfed his last round on November 18, 2022 in 70-degree weather, enjoying the unseasonable warmth. After his first brain bleed stroke on November 19, 2022, he set a personal goal to return to the links. Before that disabling event, he also bowled, biked, and set incredible goals for himself like walking 20,000 to 30,000 steps per day which he tracked and achieved regularly!

Jim possessed a quick-witted humor and sprung puns on family and friends mercilessly. He read extensively and loved music. He enjoyed eating, especially desserts, unabashedly. He played board games, Farkle (a dice game), and card games with a will to win, but was okay with his grandchildren besting him. He solved Sudoku and crossword puzzles and broadcast the “word of the day” and its definition from his Google feed to anyone who would listen.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Lynn Ann; his children, Christi (Shawn) Lemery, Joy (Martin Kinnerk) Reesman, Paul (Melanie) Reesman, Dawn (Greg) Dake, The Timothy Reesman, and Catherine (John) Doyle; and his grandchildren, Brendan and Maya Lemery, Keagan, Kassidy, and Kaleigh Kinnerk, Owen, Eleanor, and Eden Dake, and Cecilia, Jack, and Ellie Doyle. He is also survived by his siblings Stephen Reesman and Mary (David) Jirik and siblings-in-law, Nancy (Thomas) Riegler, Mark Wachniak, and Kirby Wachniak. Additionally, he will be missed by nieces, nephews, and many wonderful friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his stillborn son, Nathaniel, parents, Cecilia and Louis Reesman, parents-in-law, Betty and Raymond Wachniak, and very recently, sister-in-law Jean Reesman, wife of Stephen.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 1:00-3:15 p.m. at St. Camillus, 10200 W. Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa WI 53226, followed by a funeral mass in the St. Camillus San Camillo Chapel at 3:30 p.m. Interment will be limited to family only at another time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee (www.hungertaskforce.org) are appreciated.

Jim’s family is grateful for the expert, patient, and compassionate care he received from the medical staff at Froedtert Hospital and Horizon Hospice, as well as the rehab and nursing staff at St. Camillus, and nursing staff of Serenity Villa.

Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home is proudly serving the Reesman family.

• Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home
• 225 W. Main Street Waterford, WI 53185
• 262-534-2233
• www.stencelfh.com