James Joseph Clark

James Joseph Clark, age 94, of Waunakee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2025. Jim was born on February 21, 1931, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin to parents Kathryn Mercedes Coffey and Daniel Webster Clark. At age three, his family moved to a three-story home on Park Street in Madison. He attended St. Joseph’s and St. James Catholic Schools and graduated from Madison West High School in 1949. During and after high school, Jim worked a variety of odd jobs but spent much of his time at a local gas station, where he developed his lifelong interest in cars and mechanics. A talented musician, Jim took saxophone lessons at Ward Brodt Music and learned to play the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. After high school, Wally Stebbins recruited him to play tenor sax in a local dance band, where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Vamstad. Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War at age 20. He completed basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, specializing in mechanics, and served on the front lines as head supervisor of his mechanical team in Korea from 1951 to 1953. He and Mary Ann corresponded faithfully throughout his service and were married on September 4, 1954, after he returned home. They lived briefly in Chicago where Jim attended diesel and gasoline mechanics school, becoming officially certified. Jim worked at Gisholt Machine Company and Parman’s gas station on Nakoma Road for many years. While later working at a gas station on East Washington Avenue, he met the owner of Starr Realty, who short of help, asked him to type up some real estate appraisals on the side, sparking a new career path. He went on to sell real estate for many years before founding a business with Greg Gardiner, conducting property tax assessments for local municipalities. Jim continued this work until his retirement at age 62. 

Jim and Mary Ann lived on the shores of Lake Mendota for 30 years, hosting many parties with family and friends. After retiring, they moved from Waunakee to Tomahawk, where they enjoyed 20 years of “up north” living before returning to Waunakee in 2012. Mary Ann preceded him in death in 2023 after 69 years of marriage. Jim played baseball and softball well into his fifties and took up gardening after that. He learned how to play ping pong in the service and taught all his kids how to play. Jim was a lifelong hunter, fisherman, trap shooter and card player. He was an avid fan of the Packers, Badgers, and Brewers and kept up on them daily by reading the entire sports section of the newspaper. 

Jim is survived by his son James (Mary) Clark, daughters Jane (Trace) Soper and Nancy Huggett; grandchildren Mackenzie Clark, Samuel (Liz) Soper, Jacob Soper, Tara (Wes) Nonn, and Mick Karls; and great-grandchildren Kypton, Beau, and Haisley Nonn, and Elsie Soper. 

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Ann Clark; grandson, Zachary Clark; son-in-law, John Huggett; his parents; brother Darrell (Ardis) Clark; sister Mary Jo (Erv) Kreger and many other relatives and friends.

A Memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct 24,2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St Mary of The Lake Catholic Church at 5460 Mary Lake Rd Westport. 

A Reception will follow at Buck & Honey's in Waunakee. Burial will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at York Lutheran Cemetery in Blanchardville, WI.

Please share your memories of James by posting in his Guestbook.

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI