James "Jim" Roepke

James J. “Jim” Roepke of Waukesha, died on Friday, March 11, 2011 at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc at the age of 85. Jim was born on July 6, 1925 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He lived with his parents, Julius and Ida Roepke, and older sister Lois. As a child growing up during the depression, Jim remembered WPA overalls and riding his bike to deliver rolls baked by his mother. He liked to say, “I guess we were poor, but we didn’t know we were poor.” Jim was active in Boy Scouts, earning the Order of the Arrow and also serving as Scoutmaster for his troop. Jim also worked at Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta in Kenosha County, including time as Director. Jim graduated from Bradford High School and served overseas in the U.S. Army during World War II. He kept every letter written to him by his future wife, Lois Wendorf. Jim and Lois were married in 1949. They lived in Madison while he finished his undergraduate degree in Social Work. Jim was able to start his education overseas at the end of the war, an opportunity Jim was very grateful for. Jim and Lois moved to Waukesha where Jim found work as a caseworker in what was then the “Department of Public Welfare”. In 1952, Jim became the youngest Director of Public Welfare in the history of the state. Under Jim’s tenure, Waukesha became the first county in the state to qualify its Child Guidance Clinic for state reimbursement as a related welfare service. While living in Waukesha, Jim and Lois became parents to Mary, Susan, and Tom. In 1964, Jim accepted an offer from Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to become the Director of Martin Luther Homes in Stoughton, Wisconsin. In 1966, the family returned to Waukesha while he worked as an administrator for Lutheran Social Services in the Milwaukee Office. One of Jim’s many high points during his long career was attending the White House Conference on Children in 1970. Jim left Lutheran Social Services in 1982 and worked as a consultant until he was hired as the Director of the Department of Aging for Waukesha County. Jim retired from service to Waukesha County in 1989. Jim was a proud member of the Waukesha Noon Lion’s club for over 50 years. He was a past-president of the club and was awarded two of Lion’s highest honors when he was named a Birch-Sturm Fellow in 1992 and a Melvin Jones Fellow in 1994. Jim was very involved with ticket sales for the yearly chicken barbeque, with his sales topping 100 tickets in his best years. Jim developed many enduring relationships with his fellow Lions, who continued to be a strong presence in his life. Jim was also active in local politics, and kept current with local, county, and state candidates. He never missed an election. Jim had a lifelong love for antique cars. A number of cars found their way to the Roepke garage where they were lovingly restored by Jim. His children enjoyed many “running board” rides up the driveway, and a ride in one of the “rumble seats” was always a treat. Sue and Tom remember how Jim worked a trip to Salt Lake City into the family’s western vacation because he had a lead on a steering wheel for his old Pierce Arrow. Jim was a charter member of the Waukesha Olde Car Club and also belonged to the Nash Car Club of America. Jim also loved tending to his vegetable garden and sharing his bumper crops with family and friends. He also welcomed pets into the family, and is noted for his valiant efforts to discourage suitors of the family cat, Anna. Despite Jim’s best efforts, Anna was able to populate both Waukesha and Dane Counties with 72 kittens. Following Jim’s social work principles, homes were found for all of them. Jim centered his life on family. He regularly drove the family to Kenosha for visits and holiday celebrations. Many summer vacations began with car trips to experience some of the country’s important sites. Jim also loved taking his family camping in a home made camper.   On these trips, Jim made up humorous stories and shared anecdotes from his past. Jim led rousing renditions of familiar songs and some that were lesser known but were an important part of the Roepke tradition. Jim is survived by a son Tom in New York, daughter Susan (Oliver) Perry of Madison, grandchildren Tyson and Tom Toepfer, John and Erica Perry. He is also survived by a nephew Bill (Peggy) Bader of Florida and niece Pat Hendricks of Kenosha. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Lois, daughter Mary Toepfer, and twin granddaughters Laura and Joan Perry. He was also preceded in death by his sister Lois Bader Stein. The family would like to thank Dr. Brian Chapman and Dr. James Dall. A special thanks to the staff at Avalon Square for their attentive care over the last nine years. Gratitude is also extended to the compassionate presence of the staff at AngelsGrace Hospice. Finally, Sue and Tom want to thank their Dad for his loving guidance to all three of his children throughout their lives. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2011 from 1:00 until the 3:00PM funeral service at Randle-Dable Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha, WI. Pastor David Zandt will preside. Graveside services will be held privately at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha. Memorials are appreciated to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, 3834 County Road A, Rosholt, WI   54473 or to AngelsGrace Hospice, W359 N7430 Brown Street, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at (262) 547-4035, or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave an on-line tribute.