James H. Brodzeller

James H. “Jim” Brodzeller, 73, of West Bend was called home to be with the Lord on August 1, 2019 at The Pavilion at Glacier Valley in Slinger, WI.

Jim was born on August 18, 1945 in Allenton, WI to the late Roman and Abby Brodzeller  (nee Wiedmeyer).  He was united in marriage to Lois A. Christenson on June 14, 1969 at St. Frances Cabrini in West Bend.

Jim graduated from West Bend High School in 1963. He was an avid athlete exceling in football and track, despite having had polio as a young boy. Jim pursued a successful career as an independent insurance agent owning his own agency. Later in his retirement, he had fun being the resident handy man at Tennies Hardware and was a greeter at the West Bend Meijer. He enjoyed greeting and talking with everyone who came through the doors and is forever apart of the Meijer family as one of the original staff pictured on the store wall.

Jim loved the outdoors and was specifically passionate about hunting, fishing, cooking woodworking, and searching for his favorite, morel mushrooms. He was a past president of the Kiwanis Early Risers and past member of the Inland Lake Yachting Association Bilge Pullers. Jim and Lois were members of the Cedar Lake Yacht Club for 36 years. The summers that Jim and his family spent on Big Cedar were some of the most cherished times for Jim. Both Jim and Lois loved the lake and the yacht club so much that in the winter of 1999 together they took their passion for woodworking, and dedication to the yacht club to new heights. The yacht club was preparing for her centennial celebration that next summer. In the cold winter months, in an unheated building, they, along with their son volunteered their time and talents transforming the interior of the yacht club to what she is today. The warmth of the woodworking inside the yacht club is a legacy that Jim was so proud of, and in his nature, it was done in a quiet way. Their collective efforts did not go un-noticed as that summer the yacht club awarded them with the Inspirational Award. Jim loved watching his own children sail cheering them on through all their successes both on and off the water, later in life he loved cheering on his grandchildren. More than ever he enjoyed his time hunting with his granddaughter Morgan and wanted to fish one last time with his grandson Sawyer and see him play in his first football game. Every time Morgan and Sawyer took the ice for figure skating or hockey, he couldn’t watch them without getting a tear in his eye, just like when he watched his own children sailing. He was so proud of all them, for all their achievements. If he wasn’t building something in his workshop, fishing, or hunting, Jim could be found cheering on the Packers, and if it didn’t go the way he was hoping everyone knew it. Of all the things Jim loved to do, including playing cards, working on puzzles, or sitting by the warmth of a fire, it was spending time with his family he loved most.

Those Jim leaves behind to cherish his memory include his wife of 50 years, Lois; his daughter Christine (Ryan) Lichtensteiger of West Bend, their children Morgan and Sawyer, his son Brian (Michele) Brodzeller of Mayville, and their son Brett. He is further survived by his brother David (Judy) Brodzeller of Sun City West, AZ, sister-in-laws Bette (Butch) Zabrowski and Joan (Tom) Schleif, his beloved Aunt Lucy Wiedmeyer, his four-legged buddy Jack Sparrow, many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

A Memorial Service for Jim will be held at 6:30pm on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019 at Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home in West Bend.

The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019 from 4:30 pm until the time of the memorial service

Jim’s family extends their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at The Pavilion at Glacier Valley and the staff of the Fresenius Kidney Care in West Bend, for their kindness, compassion, friendship and support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Kettle Moraine Ice Center in honor of his grandchildren or to the Washington County Humane Society.

The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home of West Bend has been entrusted with Jim’s arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.

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