Mount Pleasant – James Arthur Woodward passed away at home on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 with family at his side. He was born in Racine, at St. Luke's Hospital on January 31, 1934 to the late Frances Glad Peterson Woodward and Earl Reynold Woodward.  Jim attended Fratt Elementary, McKinley Junior High and Washington Park High School, where he was very active in sports, primarily basketball, baseball and cheerleading. He graduated in 1951.   Jim was an Eagle Scout, a corporal and a supply sergeant in the US Army at Camp Campbell, Kentucky.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1957 with a BBA.

Jim married Shirley Mae Tessneer on December 29, 1956 at Grace Lutheran Church in Racine. They were married for 60 years until her death in May 2017.  They raised four children with a strong foundation of self-responsibility and integrity.  Jim was a steadfast husband and father.

Jim worked in various areas of accounting early in his career, at Marathon Paper Co. in Neenah, Belle City Malleable in Racine, and as Comptroller of PDI in Racine. He worked at RPB Chemical Corporation in West Allis for 20 years serving as Secretary-Treasurer and then as Executive Vice President and CFO. After retirement, he served on their Board of Directors.  He was known to be very organized, precise, and was adept at and enjoyed working with finances and investments.

Jim was an active member of Bethania Lutheran Church for over 50 years, singing in the choir and serving on the council and as church treasurer. He was an avid golfer, excellent bowler, played cards with the Mount Pleasant Men's Schafskopf Club, and enjoyed watching hours of golf, the Green Bay Packers, the White Sox and a variety of other sporting events.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Joyce Woodward and Michael Clickner of Mount Pleasant, with whom he lived, his daughter Anne Woodward of Racine, and sons Glenn Woodward of Milwaukee and Gary (Jane) Woodward of Wauwatosa. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ellen Clickner of Kansas City, MO, Henry Clickner and his wife, Ceilidh Higgins of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Angela and Eric Woodward.

He is further survived by his brothers and sister and their spouses, Robert and Shirley Woodward, Jane Markham, Lee and Betty Woodward and Bruce and Shirley Woodward along with many nieces and nephews. Jim was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Darrell Markham, and brothers and sisters-in-law Ken and Roberta (Bobbie) Tessneer, and Marvin and Irma Tessneer.

The family wishes to thank Pastor Heather Bumstead for her support and Samantha D. of Brightstar for her kind assistance with home care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Bethania Lutheran Church or the American Heart Association.

Visitation will be on Saturday, May 12th from 1-2pm at Bethania Lutheran Church, 4120 Wright Avenue, Racine, followed by the memorial service at 2pm. Private interment will take place at a later date.

Service Details

Funeral service: Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Bethania Lutheran Church, 4120 Wright Avenue

Visitation: will be in the church on Saturday from 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Interment: Private for family at West Lawn Memorial Park.

Memorial Suggestions

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Bethania Lutheran Church or to the American Heart Association have been suggested.