James P. McIlraith, age 64, New London, took his final breath on June 26, 2021.
The youngest of four children, he was born on February 6, 1957, son of Dorothy and Emmet McIlraith, at New London Community Hospital. Jim was active in high school baseball and basketball as well as Legion baseball, recreational golf and disc golf. He also had artistic talent, a love of music, especially Jazz, and taught himself to play the piano. Jim attended UW Whitewater for one year following high school but found his favorite place in California working for the Santa Clara State University Radio station. He resurrected their Jazz program, promoted concerts and musicians and significantly increased his extensive record album collection. Jim was definitely not a saint. He lived his life full out, took risks, bent the rules and it caught up to him early in his life. Jim was a scoundrel and was known to have rotated the same engagement ring several times. He was also a schemer and laughed when you caught him in the act. He loved cars but didn’t have good luck with them. The night of his brother Bob’s wedding, with all the gifts in the trunk, he rolled his sister Carol’s car, a short time later another accident landed him in a body cast for months and with the addition of drugs and alcohol the final accident in 1991, led to his traumatic brain injury. Jim needed continual assistance thereafter and lived his final years at Alten Haus, Neenah. Jim shared his love for his mother, sister Carol, brother and nieces with anyone who came to visit and with the staff at Alten Haus. He raved about his mother’s cooking, especially her meatloaf.
He is survived by his sister Kathleen McIlraith, New London; brother Bob (Sue) McIlraith; nieces, Erin (Austin Peasley) McIlraith, Springfield, OR and Devyn McIlraith, Grafton. Jim was preceded in death by his sister Carol, mother Dorothy and father Emmet.
The McIlraith family extends their heartfelt thank you to the staff at Alten Haus, who became his extended family and had great patience and tolerance for Jim’s antics and the Heartland Hospice caregivers for their care and expertise in his final years.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Most Precious Blood Cemetery, New London. The family kindly request memorials be directed to the Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Oshkosh, your local Hospice organization, or charity of your choice. Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clinehansonfuneralhome.com