James Stuart Mau was born at LaCrosse, Wisconsin on February 13, 1932. He was the son of Christian Robert and Katherine Genevieve Phillips Mau of West Salem, Wisconsin. Jim attended the West Salem Schools and graduated from West Salem High School in 1950.
After graduation from High School he studied Cabinetmaking at LaCrosse Vocational School. He then went to the Stout Institute [now UW-Stout] to pursue a degree in Industrial Arts Education. His studies were disrupted by the Korean War and he spent 2 years in the Naval Reserve. He returned to Stout and graduated with a BS in 1957 and an MS in 1961.
While at Stout, Jim met Patricia Ryan of Durand. They were married on August 17, 1957 and both taught the following year at Waldo High School. Jim subsequently taught at Bloomer High School. The family then moved to Kenosha where Jim taught at Lincoln Junior High and then Lance Junior High until he retired in 1989. During his teaching career he was selected to be the Wisconsin Industrial Arts Teacher of the Year.
Jim and Pat moved to Mesa, AZ in 1990. Jim now had time to spend on developing his hobby - - collecting hammers. He researched the history behind each tool, spending several days each year at The U.S. Patent Office, The Library of Congress, and The Smithsonian Library. He also became active in the Mid-West Tool Collector’s Association, acting as a Wisconsin Director and then as the What’s It Chairman. He was very proud to have received the Marion Henley Award.
Jim died on September 22, 2018 at Brookdale North Hospice at Chandler, AZ. He is survived by his wife Pat, his son Steven, his daughter Laura [Tracy] Clark, and his grandson Adam Clark. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Patricia.
Funeral arrangements will be private.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18