Jim Richgels Obituary, Death -After a brief struggle with lung cancer, James G. “Jim” Richgels, who was 66 years old and lived in Madison, passed away on January 8, 2023, at the UW Hospital. On July 25, 1956, he was born to Melvin and Leora (Drager) Richgels in the town of Highland in the state of Wisconsin. Jim was born and reared in Cross Plains, and he received his high school diploma from Middleton in 1974. Jim and Janine Lennie tied the knot on August 13, 1977, in the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He spent 12 years working for MG&E before moving on to the United States Postal Service, where he remained until his retirement as a transportation supervisor. Since the Madison Mallards first began playing, his “exciting” job has been working as a beer pourer at the stadium where the team plays.
Jim was a huge fan of baseball and had even played the game when he was younger. In addition to being a season ticket holder for the Badger Football team with his girlfriend Janine, he was also a fan of the UW-Whitewater football team. Jim’s daughter Vanessa and his granddaughter Accadia both played softball, and Jim coached them. In addition to that, he was a big fan of going to Devil’s Lake, playing golf, and fishing (his happy place.) His wife, Janine, and his daughter, Vanessa (Joseph) DiLorenzo, both survived him, as did his granddaughter, Accadia DiLorenzo, and his stepgranddaughter, Phoebe Nettesheim. He is also survived by his sisters Leone and Jane Richgels, Elizabeth “Betty” Duesterhoeft, Donna Fox, and Katherine “Kate” Fitzsimmons; his brother, Ken One Peace; and his brother (Tess)
Before he was born, all of his family members—his parents, brothers John, Robert, and David, and sister Mary Sue Saenz—had already passed away. At eleven in the morning on Friday, January 13, 2023, there will be a Christian burial service held at St. Peter Catholic Church, which is located at 5001 N. Sherman Avenue. On Thursday, January 12, 2023, visitation will be held at the Ryan Funeral Home, located at 2418 N. Sherman Avenue, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. In addition, there will be a visitation at the church on Friday, beginning at ten in the morning and continuing up to the start of the Mass. Interment will take conducted at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
The family would want to convey their gratitude to the nurses at the UW Hospital Burn Center in particular.