James “Jim” A. Bickler, 81, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the New Berlin home he shared with Joan, his wife of nearly 60 years. Jim is survived by Joan; his five children, Jessica (Tim) Martin, Jason (Deana) Bickler, Jeanne (Dan) Sidner, Julie Henry, and Joanna (Mark) Cygan. He was the always-proud grandpa to 12 grandchildren – Dylan and Kyle Martin, Jack and Grae Wieland, Shea Sidner, Lucas, Miles and Hugh Henry, Alex and Jackson Bickler, and Theo and Levi Cygan. Jim was the only child of his parents, Jacob (Roy) and Virginia Bickler.

Jim was born in Chicago in September 1941. He grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Maine East High School. At the young age of 15 he met his forever sweetheart, Joan Johnson, at a church sock hop. Jim later graduated from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., and was a proud supporter of his alma mater his entire life.

Jim made a career in the insurance business while he and Joan built their family. He worked for Occidental Life, Kemper and eventually retired as CEO of All-American Life. Jim’s job allowed him and Joan to travel both throughout the US and internationally.

Jim and Joan raised their family in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Lake Forest, Illinois. Always a believer in participating in your community, Jim was a Cub Scout leader, helped with school fund-raisers, was elected to the Lake Forest School Board, served as condo board president at their retirement community in Tarpon Springs, Fla., and was a member of the board of the Hope Network for Single Mothers in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Jim relished in the love and affection of his big, boisterous family. He encouraged his kids and grandkids to excel at school as education was so important to him.

Throughout his career and in retirement, Jim embraced many hobbies and fun activities. He was a lifelong reader of books and newspapers, played tennis and golf, enjoyed crossword puzzles and card games, telling jokes and a good doughnut. He devoted countless hours to watching his beloved Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears over the course of his life and would have liked to have had his loyalty rewarded with a few more winning seasons. He was an avid photographer and loved to take and share pictures of landscapes and architecture.

A memorial service will be held at Regency Senior Community, 13750 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 11. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with a service and a luncheon to follow the visitation. The closest parking lot is on West Fieldpointe Drive, just north of National Avenue and off of Sunnyslope.

Jim was known to be more than punctual, so please remember — if you’re on time, you’re already five minutes late.

Memorials suggested to the Hope Network.