Wierzenski, James Sr. “Jim”, 94, passed away on March 17, 2019, while living in Gadsden, AL. Cremation services will be provided by Collier Butler. A memorial service will be held at Collier Butler Funeral Home on April 6, 2019 at 2:30 pm. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1:30 pm until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers and cards, please give to your local homeless shelter, which would be the greatest expression of your love.
Jim was well known and was well loved. He was born in Marshfield, WI, to Mable and John Wierzenski and had one brother Bill. At the young age of 12, Jim was already demonstrating his talents of being a leader. He was a maestro of the violin and played with a three-piece country western band named the Midget Melodians. They performed on WLBL radio, at ballrooms, special attractions and also played with the Rube Thronson Orchestra. After graduating from the Marshfield Senior High School, Jim worked for The Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL as their Control Clerk. Since Jim was a passionate man who loved life and his Country, he enlisted with the United States Army. His first tour was with the First Amphibious Engineer Brigade, who “stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day”. He also served overseas in the European Theatre and was honorably discharged with three bronze service stars and a bronze service arrowhead. Almost all the way up to his death, Jim would be quick to tell you the exact hour when he stormed the beach on D-Day at “0630 hrs”. Jim Wierzenski was a man of details. After serving his country bravely, he immediately attended the Stevens Point State Teachers College in Stevens Point, WI. At one point, Jim actually entertained the thought of becoming a dentist. However, Mr. Wierzenski had his heart and eyes set on achieving something bigger, so he attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO, at the College of Business Administration, achieving his major in B.S. Retailing, and was a member of the Theta Xi Fraternity. He was also very active in the community while serving as Secretary to the St. Louis Housewares Club; Sales Executive Assn (SEA); Trading Stamp Institute of America (TSIA), and was a Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (BPOE). While in St. Louis, Destiny came calling when Jim met his wife Kay. She became his beautiful bride and wife of almost 50 years before passing away in her sleep in 2003. Together, Jim and Kay had five wonderful children; four boys and one girl. To provide for his family, Jim started climbing the corporate ladder, while imprinting his legacy within the sales industry. In 1950, Jim became the Associate Buyer for Stix Baer and Fuller. He left that company to accept a position of Sales Manager with the Dazey Corporation in St. Louis, MO. He later worked for Scruggs Vandervoort Barney as their buyer, but in 1959, The Dazey Corporation offered Jim a prestigious position to be their National Sales Manager. His territory covered all 50 States and Canada. However, in 1994, Jim was honored with the opportunity of joining the Sales Team at the Vollrath Company, Inc. Jim worked for Vollrath for 30 years and retired as their Regional Manager of the Central Region. In 1996, Jim and Kay moved to Peachtree City, GA to semi-retire and then fully retire. Throughout his employment with Vollrath, Jim helped establish the solid growth and foundation of the company by expanding their product lines, establishing record sales, implementing sound business strategies, and by hiring successful, long-term sales representatives that knew how to close the deal. Since the words “can’t give up” were not a part of Jim’s vocabulary, he was known at Vollrath as the “Come Back Kid”; and now as his children, we know why. Jim Wierzenski never gave up. When things didn’t look good, Jim always bounced back and exceeded everyone’s expectations. Throughout the years, Jim never gave up on his wife, his children, friends, business or his own life. Jim has left a wonderful and loving legacy in so many ways that will be cherished by many for years to come. Jim Wierzenski will be greatly missed by his surviving children: His two sons, his daughter Kathy (husband David), four grandchildren, Zachary, Michael, Valerie and Nicole (and husband Stephen), one great grandson, Owen, and a great granddaughter, Anacapri, with relatives scattered throughout the U.S., two of Jim’s sons went home before he did: Terry (passed in 2013) and Tommy (passed in 2007). To sign Jim’s guestbook and share memories online, please visit www.collier-butler.com.
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