The Life Story of James P. Higgins A Tribute

Mr. James P Higgins passed away the morning of Sunday, March 3rd, 2024. James was born during a Minnesota snowstorm on the 4th of March 1939, to parents Paul James Higgins and Elsa Emma Katherine Janke.

He would have found humor in the fact that he was 84 years and 365 days old on the day he died, as February 29th was an extra day for Leap Year in 2024! He would have otherwise celebrated his 85th birthday on Monday…

Both of his parents predeceased him as did his three siblings, Pauline Marie (M: Jack Vaughn), Gerald Elmer
Higgins (Barbara Schafer, divorced) and Susan Marie (M: Joseph Hayes). James was also preceded in death by his loving wife, Priscilla Ann Reeves, and their eldest daughter, Cynthia Lynn Higgins-Geib (Ronald Geib, divorced).

James Higgins is survived by two daughters, Wendy Sue (M: Frederick Meyer) and Jo Ann Marie (M: Todd Schmidt).

James leaves to this world six grandchildren, Dannielle M. Geib (M: Jacob Iller), William F. Meyer (engaged to Rosie Raddemann), Stephanie A. Schmidt (M: Zachary Barboza), James H. Meyer (M: Rebecca Smith), Brianna J. Geib, Courtney M. Schmidt. Great-grandchildren: Samuel E. Iller, Taylor M. Meyer, Baylie M. Iller, Oliver E. Barboza.

Mr. Higgins is further survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, other extended family, and loving friends. ♥️

James lived his early childhood years in Minnesota and started his elementary education while the family lived in New Brighton. In 1947, the family moved to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they made their home at the top of the Hotel Martin. By today's standards that would be a penthouse location, but it was not so back then. His father was hired as a general building laborer, and he delivered coal to the building residents. During the early spring of 1948, a serious fire destroyed much of the first floor but not the entire building. The family was displaced for a short while but was eventually able to move back in where they remained for about two years.

The next move was to 39th and Parkhill while Jim's dad was employed driving a team of horses for the city of Milwaukee's garbage service. The next move for the Higgins family was to 1966 S. 94th St. in West Allis. This was the first home the family purchased and where they resided for several years. Then came a period of time when the family moved often due to the absence of Paul. Elsie and the children later moved into accommodations behind the Barnekow grocery store, run by her sister Edna and Edna's husband "Bud" Gee. Elsie was employed helping out at the store and also worked for another local store, (Rempter's?).

In the mid 50's, Jim found work with Eastern Standard Oil as a filling station attendant and light-duty mechanic. Around the age of 17, Jim met "Sonny" Clifford who ignited his passion for short dirt track, stock car racing.

At 19, Jim was set up on a blind date by his friend, Mr. Harold Brown, who said Ms. Priscilla Reeves was in need of a date to attend the wedding of a girlfriend. Jim says he met Pat "on a blind date, she was blind and he was her date"! Priscilla claimed that if she'd known he was a redhead she would not have accepted because, "she didn't really like redheads all that much". But, it wasn't long before the two became close…and they were married about a year later, December of 1959.

After joyfully celebrating the birth of three daughters in 1960, 1961, and 1962, the Higgins clan quickly grew to a
family of five. Not long after their last child arrived it was discovered that Jim had some serious health issues with his kidneys. The problems were discovered after a racing crash left him with lingering problems that required numerous doctor visits and further testing. Jim was lucky to find an amazing kidney doctor and team before undergoing major dual ureter reconstruction surgery which required extensive hospitalization… 16 months in fact, at several locations followed by weeks of subsequent recovery. He said he became a medical 'case study' at that time! He never expected to be the longest surviving male of the Higgins clan after all of that!

In the mid-1960's the young family purchased their first home, located on 104th St (near Mill Road), in Milwaukee. During this time, Jim also leased and operated a Phillips 66 Station. He worked hard to overcome his medical debt and went on to work many different jobs, from owning a salvage parts yard in Fredonia, to working at another, then working for Five Corners GMC, and then for the Bob Fish Dealership in West Bend.

The family moved from Milwaukee to Fredonia and then to Port Washington where they rented an upstairs duplex country farmhouse before purchasing a home in Saukville in 1976. Eventually, Jim and Pat moved to a condo in West Bend prior to buying a mobile home off River Road near Lake Lenwood.

Pat and Jim were involved in various groups during their years in Ozaukee County. They made many friends and
stayed busy by bowling and square dancing locally with occasional travel throughout Wisconsin. They enjoyed
many weekends with their daughters and many of those same friends by joining a camping club.

Through those friendships, Jim made a connection with Neil Johnson…and that connection brought Jim to change jobs again. He went to work for Harvey Kuhlman where he eventually trained in refrigeration and joined the local 601 Steamfitters Union. This job ultimately led Jim and Pat to begin their adventures traveling the country's grand highways in their 5th wheel trailer where he would work on plant projects installing commercial refrigeration. When they needed to be in Wisconsin, they often parked their 'home on wheels' in the yard of their daughter's (Cindy) Port Washington property.

Jim finally retired, and he and Pat made the big move to a little town called Pahrump, NV. They made many additional friends and spent time in almost every casino in Nevada. But Jim wasn't quite ready to hang up the tool belt just yet, so he bought and ran a small bottle gas business and continued to tinker with all kinds of things. Still, his first love was cars, always CARS. He was always buying, fixing, rebuilding, and selling. In his spare time, he found a passion for metals and coin collecting. He started hanging out at local auction houses, and oh what that hobby turned into!

Despite the abandonment by his father as a child and the tough times their family faced, Jim NEVER lost his commitment to family. He ALWAYS stayed connected to family, both near and far…following in the positive example set by his mother, Elsie. Though the family was often on a shoestring budget, they regularly traveled (with Jim's mom along!) to every family event held by relatives around the Midwest; and nearly every month it seemed to be in their 'home state' of Minnesota!

Jim and Pat personally went through many years of hard times after Pat's health started to decline following a
lower back & scar tissue revision surgery that caused her a multitude of long hospitalizations and treatments.

Priscilla passed in 2012 and Jim continued on for another 12 years without the woman he loved.

Jim continued to visit family all over, even staying for a few years in Tampa, FL to be a companion and part-time
caregiver for his aunt Lucille.

Throughout his life, Jim and Pat visited LOTS of casinos! Jim loved games of all sorts, but he favored card games the most. He taught his daughter, Jo Ann, to play poker and the two began many years of adventures; including embarking on his very first cruise; a poker cruise to the Caribbean for his birthday! His second and final cruise was also a poker cruise…to Alaska, a place he always wanted to visit and try his hand at 'panning for gold'!!

No matter where Jim was, he was always seeking his next adventure. As he said, "You don't need to be rich, you
just need to go do it!".

To our beloved Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Uncle, and Cousin, we will forever remember you, love you, and miss you ♥️

Kewaskum Town Hall Community Center
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024 at 12:30 PM & MONDAY, APRIL 22 at 9:00 AM

Internment: Monday April 22, 2024 9:00am
Holy Cross Cemetery
7301 W Nash St
Milwaukee, WI 53216