James Paul “Jim” Thomas died of cancer in Waupaca, WI, Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Jim was born in Sheboygan, WI on June 6, 1945, to Paul and Maude (Dewey) Thomas. He grew up in Elkhart Lake, WI and graduated from Elkhart Lake High School in 1963. He attended University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1963 to 1967, graduating with a degree in Finance and Economics.
Jim served in the US Army from January 1968 to January 1971. He married Anne Gratton on June 22, 1968, and they remained married for more than 58 years until his death. He worked at Heritage Insurance in Sheboygan for many years, then at Society Insurance in Fond du Lac, WI from 2001 until his retirement in 2010.
Jim treasured his childhood in Elkhart Lake and shared memories of swimming across the lake for lifeguard training, of riding his bicycle on the track at Road America as a young boy while it was being built and of working during his college summers at Siebken’s Resort.
Jim was a lifelong fan of the Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers. He would have loved to cheer for the Brewers in the 2026 World Series. Jim was a principled man and lived by the principles of education, hard work and helping people with fewer resources. He loved bird watching, sailing, singing and a friendly debate. Jim and Anne shared a beautiful life together and loved music, travel, antiques and their family.
He is survived by his wife, Anne; sister, Margaret (Robert) Busse; son, Paul (Kathleen) Thomas; daughter, Michelle (Elias) Soto; and grandchildren, Lukas Soto, Sage Soto, and Jacqueline Tarrence. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Timothy Thomas.
Per Jim’s request, services will be held at a later date. Cremation has taken place.
Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com
