James E. Reilly

James E. Reilly, 92, passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at the Veterans Home in Union Grove due to COPD complications. Jim was born in Madison, WI, to Thomas W. and Edna (Bostwick) Reilly and grew up in Lancaster, WI, with two sisters and two brothers. He attended Loras College, graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and then served in the U.S. Army medical corps and European Theatre. Following the war, Jim married Mary Amendola on June 1, 1946; in 1949 they moved to Racine where they raised three children. He was employed by Strouf Funeral Home, Maresh Funeral Home, and American Motors from where he retired.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Alice and Charlotte; brothers, Thomas, John Richard, and an infant brother; as well as his wife and their son Dennis James Reilly. Jim is survived by two daughters, Sheila Virtue of Oregon, WI, and Eileen (Jeffrey) Hoey of Racine; cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. He enjoyed dancing to big band and country music, loved gardening, tinkering and eating hot peppers, and never passed up a trip to the coffee shop to joke with friends. He truly appreciated the care he received from the staff on 1 West Boland Hall, and cherished every meeting of the Deli gang in Mauer Hall where Rhonda Bose was always there with a hug and hot cup of coffee and treats for each Vet.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Veteran’s Home Mauer Hall Chapel, 21425 Spring St. (Hwy C), Union Grove, WI 53182, on Friday, July 22, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Jim Volkert officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at Mauer Chapel on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10:30 a.m. Jim’s favorite charities would be St. Catherine’s High School, 1200 Park Ave., Racine, WI 53403 or the Activities Program at the Union Grove Veterans Home, 21425 F Spring St., Union Grove, WI 53182. He was a man content with life that asked for no special treatment and shared his humor and smile readily with everyone.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine   (262) 634-7888