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James Allen Wirch passed away peacefully on May 18, 2024, at the age of 88. He was born on April 11, 1936, in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. 

Jim was an independent insurance agent for over 40 years in the Omro/Oshkosh area. He retired in 2002 after selling his insurance practice. In his early 20’s Jim worked for what was then Mercury Outboards. One of his jobs was to manage, repair and drive stunt boats in the traveling Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Show for Mercury. Jim was a gregarious story teller and teller of tall tales, he was always at ease being the life of any party. He loved to hunt elk, deer and turkey in Montana, Colorado and of course Wisconsin. He also loved to fish on his beloved Fox River that he grew up on and was happiest fishing right off the end of his dock. As a boy he even used a burnt-out light bulb for a bobber to fish with. He was a man of all trades and could fix almost anything around the home. He spent the last 20+ years as a snowbird where he and Karen left the cold Wisconsin winter for Arizona mostly and also Texas and drove their RV to Alaska in 2009. He was known for his quick wit, his kind and compassionate spirit, and his infectious outgoing smile. He had a hard time driving past any frozen custard stand and proclaimed, “there’s something wrong with the steering I need to pull over”.

Jim married his wife Karen 31 years ago and she preceded him in death just last year. His parents Fred and Fern of Winneconne, and brothers, Fred Jr. and Harold, all preceded him in death.

He is survived by brother, Jack (Mary) Wirch of Winneconne, WI; sisters-in-law, Marie Wirch, and Anna Mae Wirch; Jim’s children, Mark (Holly Drawenek) Wirch of Oshkosh, WI, Rick (Alexandria Roe) Wirch of Madison, WI, and Dawn Wirch (Scott) Campbell of Chandler, AZ; Karen’s daughters, Kristin Johnston of Spring Lake, MI, and Karla (Benjamin) Johnston-Krase of Durham, NC;  grandchildren, Cadan (Jessica), Liam, Sophia Johnston Kleinheksel and Sylvia, Meheret, and Ezgihaye Johnston-Krase; grandchildren Brian (Laura) Wirch, Aaron, William and Anna Drawenek, Robert, Bethany (Nate) Michael, and Christina (David) Morris; great-grandchildren, Spencer and Jocelynn; nieces and nephews, Emily (Sean) Cannon, Sam (Sarah Kelly) Wirch, Mike Wirch, Cindy Wirch Koehler, Andrew Wirch and Steven Wirch.

A visitation will be on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Mueller Funeral Home, 904 E. Main Street, Winneconne, WI. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Masonic service.  A lunch will be served at First Presbyterian Church, 32 S. 3rd Avenue, Winneconne following the services. Interment will be Saturday, June 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the Alto Cemetery, Waupun. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to wisconservation.org.

If you wish, please submit online condolences/memories to muellerfh.net.