James B. Abler, age 68, passed away from a heart attack, Saturday, March 5, 2016, while doing one of his favorite things–cross-country skiing.
Jim was born in Fond du Lac, WI, December 30, 1947, son of the late Herman and Irene (Nee: Nett) Abler. Jim grew up on a farm with in rural St. Peter, WI. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s Springs in Fond du Lac and Marquette University. Jim was awarded a scholarship to Marquette presented by the Milwaukee Braves baseball team. Jim spent a 38-year engineering career at Johnson Wax where he made many life-long friends. He was currently employed as a consultant on J-Wax projects. He was a member of the Johnson Wax “20 Year Club” and JMBA, and he served on the Habitat for Humanity board and also as a crew worker for Habitat, and was a member of St. Edward Catholic Church.
In September of 1970 he was united in marriage to Bobbi Grossmeyer who preceded him in death
October of 2007. Jim married Lynn (Nee: Beres) Mueller on April 16, 2010. An avid bicyclist, Jim also enjoyed motorcycle trips on his BMW, hiking, yard projects, traveling, bird watching, and Sudoku puzzles. He enjoyed tandem bike rides and backyard fires with his companion Lynn, and they had many travel adventures together during their years together. More than anything, Jim’s children Chad and Kasey and his grandchildren were his pride and joy and he cherished time spent with them.
He will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Lynn Abler; his son, Chad (Yolanda) Abler and their children, Olivia and Matthew, all of Claremont, CA; his daughter, Kasey Abler of Albuquerque, NM; Lynn’s sons Scott (Kelly) Mueller of Minneapolis, MN and Mark (Jenn) Mueller and their son, Luke, all of Brooklyn, NY; siblings, Esther (Bob) Seelig, Gerry (Bill) Spitznagle, Mary (Henry) Navarrete, Jack Abler (Donna Richmond); sister-in-law Sue Abler, brother-in-law Glen Hussar; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. Jim is also survived by Lynn’s siblings Judy Ruelle, Mike Beres (Barb Burks) and Dave (Lila) Beres. In addition to his parents and first wife, Bobbi, he was preceded in death by his brother, Joe Abler; sister, Catherine Hussar; nephew, Daniel Abler; and brother-in-law Don Ruelle.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Edward Catholic Church, 1401 Grove Avenue, with Rev. Allen Bratkowski officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Marsh-Meredith Funeral Home, 803 Main St. and Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of Mass at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Habitat for Humanity, St. Edward Catholic Church, or to St. Vincent de Paul have been suggested.
In February Jim completed his 33rd American Birkebeiner Ski Race and was also a proud member of the Worldloppet, an International Ski Federation. Jim’s great friend and former co-worker, Theo (Ted) Abrahamson, was his best skiing and biking buddy. Jim and Ted completed 31 Birkies together. Jim was especially grateful to another great friend, Dave Pucely, who donated his kidney in 2006 to him so Jim could continue to live his life to the fullest.
Jim gave to so many in his life. Jim’s final gift was as a donor of his organs and tissue.
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