May, James Bernard 1943-2009

MAY, ROSEWICZ, STERZING, COOLEY, CLEMONS, SMITH, CLARK, WOLFE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/30/2012 at 10:36:13

James May, age 66, of Ridgeway, Iowa, died on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, WI.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, Iowa, with Rev. Donald Hawes presiding.

James Bernard May was born on May 21, 1943, the son of James and Sophie (Rosewicz) May in Aurora, IL. Jim attended Aurora High School in Aurora, Illinois. He then attended body shop school and finished his apprenticeship in 1958. He was a Heavy Wreck rebuilder in the Chicago area from 1958-71. He then moved to California in 1971, and was employed at different body shops. He worked for Billington Welding, where he built race cars and helped to fix them up after a day at the races at Sears Point. Jim married Lori Sterzing on November 28, 1983, in Modesto, California. He then opened his own body shop and built the California home. Jim was also a pilot and built his own Kr-2 Experimental Aircraft: he even built the aircraft radio from scratch. He was in the process of building a helicopter before we decided to move to Iowa. He loved to fly. He also built his own specialty cars and rebuilt several Porsche’s with souped up race engines. He just loved to create many different things. He enjoyed his motorcycles, snowmobiles and all his other toys. Jim and Lori moved to Ridgeway three years ago. Jim was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, Iowa, and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Jim is survived by his wife: Lori May, Ridgeway, IA. Three daughters: Misty Cooley, Silt, CO; Brandy Clemons, New Castle, CO; and Bernadette May, Rifley, CO. Two sisters: Nadine Smith, Lime Springs, IA and Janice Clark, Aurora, IL. His mother-in-law: Gloria Sterzing, Peshtigo, WI. One sister-in-law: Krystal (Mike) Wolfe, Marinette, WI. One brother-in-law: David (Barbara) Sterzing, Marinette, WI, along with many nieces and nephews.

James was preceded in death by his parents: James and Sophie (Rosewicz) May. His sister: Sharon May. His father-in-law: Loren Sterzing.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

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