Dr. James H. Shipley

Dr. James H. “Jim” Shipley passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025.

Dr. James H. Shipley passed away at home, on Monday, February 3, 2025, at the age of 83. 

Jim was born in Tomah on January 27, 1942, to the late Carl and Lorraine (Miller) Shipley. He married Mary Elizabeth Anderson, on June 26, 1965, at St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Middleton, Wisconsin. They enjoyed 59 years together. 

Jim enjoyed Wisconsin life with his family and friends! He had several yellow labs as hunting partners and his family members. He loved Badger football, fly fishing, skiing, training for the ski patrol and working the local ski slopes. One year, Jim and Mary took a three-week ski trip to the Italian Alps with the Madison Ski Club! 

He enjoyed his wonderful Dental practice for fifty-five years! His office staff was a close-knit community of wonderfully skilled technicians and friends that were like family. His patients were the best ever, and he enjoyed his very diverse group of close-knit friends over the years! 

Jim was a graduate of Marquette University in 1966, and during his time there, he created the “Dentistry Minstrels,” a likeminded group of very talented singers which he directed and led as they performed at school events. He also had his name in the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, of Mary’s sisters, and was voted the “Ideal Man” on the UW Campus in Madison, WI, during Mary’s senior year in 1965. An honor like that did not go to his head and he humbly accepted that trophy at a dinner dance on campus. Jim and Mary were married that same year after Mary’s graduation!

Jim was a devout Christian and met the calling to be a pastor of New Life Baptist Church in 1978. He lived his life for the Lord, until his passing. He had many friends both in the faith, and those that he brought into the faith. This was a very dear and personal ministry to him. He felt, that finally, he had heard the truth about personal salvation, and the need for repentance of sins for all to enter God’s Kingdom. Simple and pure! Word got out about this “Christian Dentist” and many believers would travel to see him professionally! The church name was changed to Northern Light Baptist Church in Middleton, a lovely quaint country church off Highway 14, where folks still go to worship.

Jim will be dearly missed by his wife of 59 years, Mary; two wonderful children: daughter, Julie (Jeffrey) North, Houston, Texas, and their children, Jacob and Jessica; son, Derek (Channing) Shipley, Cross Plains, Wisconsin and their children, Zachery (Maia), Mt. Horeb, Riley, Waunakee, and Avery, Cross Plains. He is further survived by his close nieces and nephews: James, Eric; Christopher, and Jason Wunderlich, and Heidi and Ahn Wunderlich in New York; special niece, Marcy Wunderlich and special great-nephew, Wyatt Wunderlich.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Carol B. Wunderlich of Hamilton, New York. 

Dr. Shipley’s life was truly blessed by God, and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him well. God rest his soul.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the Cress Center, 6021 University Avenue, Madison. Family will greet friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will follow. Private burial will be in Sunset Memory Gardens, Madison.

Jim's service will be live-streamed. Please click on the following link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=157a8bcc-ea47-4455-b6d7-33ad9b46f9c0

Donations may be made to Northern Light Baptist Church, 7414 Wayside Rd, Middleton, WI 53562, https://www.nlbcmiddleton.com/, the University of Wisconsin – Dept. of Neurology for Epilepsy Research, https://neurology.wisc.edu/make-a-gift/, or the UW Health Carbone Cancer Center, https://www.uwhealth.org/philanthropy.

Please share your memories of Jim here on his Tribute Wall. 

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406