Jerome Calvin James

Jerry was born on September 29, 1950 (his mother’s birthday!), to Elaine and Calvin James in Waukesha, WI. Jerry was the eldest of 3 sons.

He grew up in Waukesha, and the family later moved to Delafield, WI. Jerry had fond memories of growing up on Lake Nagawicka with the water as a playground. He always told the story about learning to drive a car on the frozen lake!

He graduated from Kettle Moraine High School in 1969, and in December he joined the US Air Force. He had tours in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, working as a Jet Engine Mechanic. Jerry returned stateside and served at Seymour Johnson in North Carolina and Barksdale AFB in LA. After 8 years in the Air Force, he went to work for Braniff Airlines, and after they went under (twice!) he worked for Dalfort Aviation.

Fast forward to May 1995. Jerry went to the Main Street Days Festival in Grapevine, TX, and met Mary. As the story goes, he was eating a sausage-on-a-stick, told her the friend she was waiting on wasn’t coming, so she might as well have a beer with him! They were married Friday, October 13, 1995, aboard the Nordic Empress before it set sail from Miami to the Bahamas.

Mary and Jerry moved to Grapevine in 1996 and have lived there since. Lake Grapevine was his happy place. Being around the water was calming and relaxing for him.

Jerry worked for the US Postal Service in the Maintenance Department and retired in 2015. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease later that year.

He was a proud Wisconsonite- he loved the Green Bay Packers, brats, cheese and beer!

The last 3 years were really challenging for Jerry as his Parkinson’s progressed. He fought like a champ but his body finally said – Enough.

Jerry was predeceased by his mother and father, and youngest brother, Dennis.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; brother, Bill; granddaughter, Paten; Aunt, Anne, and cousins in Wisconsin. He also leaves behind his beloved Cavaliers King Charles, Rowdy and Calvin.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org, Michael J. Fox Foundation at www.michaeljfox.org, or King of Glory Lutheran Church at www.kingofglory.com

A Visitation will be held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors, 523 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051, on Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

The funeral will take place at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors, 523 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

The Committal will follow at Grapevine Cemetery, 908 Spring Creek Dr, Grapevine, TX 76051, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm.