Jim was born on July 30, 1924, in St. Charles, KY, to Dr. William L. and Bessie (Trover) Morse. They and a sister, Helen, predeceased him. The family moved to Earlington, KY, in 1939.He was a graduate of Castle Heights Military Academy and the University of Kentucky (BSME).
During World War II he served as an Army Infantry Officer for 36 months, 21 of those overseas. His Army service brought eight military decorations, with the Purple Heart medal and its Oak Leaf Cluster testifying to his active participation in the fighting. He fought from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured and spent the rest of the European war in POW camps.
Upon leaving the Army he resumed his quest for an engineering education, and resumed and intensified his pursuit of Marian E. Slater. The latter endeavor resulted in the more immediate fruition, and on June 11, 1947, in Erlanger, KY, the two were married. Jim has said many times that it was his great good fortune to have met Marian in Lexington at the University of Kentucky in the Fall of 1942. It was a wonderful marriage, and they lived happily ever after. Marian predeceased him on November 24, 2006.
With his BSME degree he was employed by Modine Manufacturing Company in 1949, and after serving in various areas of engineering, retired in 1987. He considered his employment a pleasure because of the many friendly and cooperative co-employees, and the challenge of the work.
He was active in the Instrument Society of America, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Sigma Nu social fraternity. He was a member of Racine’s First Presbyterian Church. He and Marian loved to travel, and toured many of the great cities of the world.
Survivors include three sons and their families: Bill (Lori) of Whitefish Bay, WI, with grandchildren Matthew of Santa Monica, CA, Russell of New York, New York, and Kelsey of San Diego, CA; Bob with grandchildren Connor and Kaitlin, all of Mt. Horeb, WI; and Victor (Stacey) with grandchildren Gabriel and Susanna, all of San Francisco, CA.
Additionally he is survived by brother-in-law H. Baker Slater, sister-in-law Francis Slater, and their three daughters, Katie, Fran and Beth, all of Cincinnati, OH. Also three special first cousins: Barbara Close of Gresham, OR, Bill Morse of Portland, OR, and Velma Cox of Newburg, IN, plus their spouses and children. And there are many friends, scattered widely geographically.
Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave., in Racine, on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Steve Fringer officiating. Friends may meet with the family at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service. In accordance with Jim’s wishes, he will join Marian and his fellow Veterans in a private burial service in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift to the University of Kentucky’s Alzheimer’s Research Center is suggested: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, 101 Sanders-Brown Building, 800 S. Limestone St., Lexington, KY 40536-0230
MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888
1 comment:
He was a great man and is greatly missed
Post a Comment