James F. Wilford, 92, Marshfield, passed away on September 8, 2018 at Marshfield Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held at Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 12 with a visitation from 10 am until service time. Burial will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Marshfield, following the service.
Jim was born on July 22, 1926 in Marshfield to Fred and Eva (Jenkins) Wilford. He was a life-long resident of the Town of Richfield, attending Farview School in Richfield through 8th grade and graduating from Marshfield High School. He earned degrees in Economics and Agribusiness from the University of Wisconsin in 1950. He married Susan Sherfinski on June 2, 1962 in Marshfield.
After high school, Jim served in the US Army as a dog handler in a Border Patrol Unit in support of the Allied Occupation of Germany. He returned to the Army after completion of his college degree, serving in the US in various capacities. He then returned home to help his parents with their dairy farm in the Town of Richfield.
In the late 1970’s Jim became chief of the Richfield Rural Fire Department and was instrumental in modernizing the department and improving volunteer training. He later developed coursework and taught Paid-On-Call Firefighter certification classes in Central Wisconsin and served as a mentor to small volunteer fire departments throughout Wisconsin. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, he was the owner/operator of the River Ranch Hunt Club and Bar.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary (Scott Smith) and grandchildren Eva, Kai and Danny Smith, all of Redding, Connecticut. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Susan.
Memorials may be designated in Jim’s name to The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville. Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
