Obituaries

James “Jim” Harold Harris, 71, of Altoona passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2024, surrounded by his family after a head injury at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield.

Jim was born on May 6, 1953, to Harold and Arlene Harris in Altoona, Wisconsin. Jim graduated from Altoona High School in 1971. He went on to UW-Eau Claire and got a double bachelor’s degree in geology and geography. Jim loved to go to Lake Pepin, picking agates, and could tell you what any rock was and how it was formed.

Jim was an excellent fisherman. His passion was musky fishing and anyone he took out musky fishing caught a big one. He was also an avid hunter. However, in the last three or so years his pain prevented him from doing much of either. Jim enjoyed his family and friends. He loved going to his land in Buffalo County to hunt or just watch the wildlife. He loved the Packers, Badgers, and Brewers, and enjoyed watching them at the 5 o’clock Bar.

Jim worked at the Altoona Equity Livestock, Co-op meat department, several meat packing plants, waste research and reclamation, and many other places.

Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary Harris; son, Joe (Sara) Harris; 3 grandchildren, Jordan Harris, Katelyn Harris, and Mary Lynn Smith; a great-grandchild, Mackenzie Smith; brother, Danny (Shirley) Harris; sister, Connie (Richard) (Harris) Madison; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Arlene Harris; father, Harold “Hank” Harris; and daughter, Stacy Harris.

A visitation will be on Monday, December 2, 2024, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Altoona.