James Martin Schoen was born December 27, 1942, in Sheboygan, WI, the second child of Theodore W. and Helen Ann Ertel Schoen. He was brought to the home of his great-grandparents Frank and Martha Olm Oertel. His grandparents William C. and Clara Oertel Schoen also lived in the home. His great-grandparents William J. and Christiana Moeller Schoen lived across the street on Maryland Avenue.
Like the rest of the Schoen generations he was baptized, confirmed and married at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.
He graduated from Immanuel Grade School and went on to graduate from South High School in 1961.
His first job was a newspaper carrier for the Sheboygan Press. He could always tell what each family was having for supper as he walked toward each home. He worked for the Lakeland Manufacturing several years and then worked for the Kohler Company as a wood patternmaker from 1965-2008.
He served with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, Red Arrow Division, out of Sheboygan, January of 1965 through March of 1970 when he was a Staff Sergeant with Company C.
On July 3, 1967, he married Barbara Mary Stipe at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. They originally met each other when Barbara was five years old and Jim was eleven years old. He and his four siblings rode along to Terry Andrae Park with his neighbor lady and her five children. On the way home they stopped at a small white house where his neighbor visited with her cousin. There was a little blue eyed blonde girl with her very large black curly haired dog jumping on and off a well cover. The next year when he went to the beach with his neighbor, he was told the little blonde girl had moved and lived along the Mississippi River in Adams County, Illinois. She returned to Sheboygan years later where in 1966 he met her at his sister’s graduation party.
Jim was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, UAW Local 833, NRA and RMEF.
His free time was spent with family and friends at a cabin he built, canoeing on the Pine River, fishing and hunting, taking his children and grandchildren to Arlington Cemetery, Florida, Colorado and Wyoming.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jean Schoen, brother and sister-in-law Ted and Colleen Schoen, brother-in-law Bob Kanzelberger and sister-in-law Lori Schoen.
Jim is survived by his wife, son Scott (Carol) Schoen, daughter Kathleen Schoen, grandchildren Creg Schoen, Chelsea Schoen and Violet Schoen, sister Marie Kanzelberger, brother John Schoen, nieces and nephews; Jason (Jamie) Kanzelberger and son Chase, Jenny (Kevin) Meyer and sons Kasey and Emmitt, Tammi (Andy) Perman and children Ellie and Carter, Mike Schoen and Nate Waller, Charlie (Kerri) Wilson and children, Braven, Nolan, Parker and Harper Jean, Jeffery (Aleah) Wilson and their children, Talea, Isla, Ronin and baby to be born March 2026.
James passed away Monday, February 2, 2026, at his home. He will be buried at Wildwood Cemetery along with many generations of his family.
A private graveside service was held at Wildwood Cemetery, Sheboygan with Rev. Donald Johnson of Immanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home is assisting the family.
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