James Elliott

James Elliott, 73, of Wausau and Madison, passed away peacefully on February 3 after a 10+ year journey with Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Jim was in turn practical and sentimental, thoughtful and funny. He loved puns and wordplay, and the world will have fewer laughs (and certainly fewer groans) now that family members asking “How are you feeling?” will no longer be met by, “With my hands!”

Jim was born in Madison, WI to John “Jack” and Kathryn (Polzin) Elliott on October 24, 1952. As a child, his playground was Madison’s downtown, and he played hide and seek with his friends in the state capitol building. Jim graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in journalism and moved to Wausau, WI for work. There, he met and married Susan (Tingom) Elliott, his wife for over 40 years.

Jim and Sue built a life together in Wausau and raised their daughters there. Jim genuinely loved his work, meeting people and learning their stories—whether reporting at the Daily Herald, showcasing a local business for the Wausau Chamber of Commerce, or interviewing a doctor at Marshfield Clinic about their specialty. (He also helped his daughters edit their school papers!) He always kept his reporter’s curiosity about the world.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; by his stepfather William Goers; by his wife and partner in life Sue; by a niece, Laura Wilson; and by his brother Peter Elliott and stepsister Mary Goers. He is survived by daughters Heather Elliott of Madison and Lisa Elliott (Evan Barnes) of Milwaukee. Other survivors include his sister Suzan (Ron) Wilson of Richfield, MN, stepbrother Bill Goers (Joanne Murray) of Victoria, BC, and many loved friends, nieces, and nephews.

Jim loved sporty cars that handled well, the Wisconsin football teams, and getting out in fresh air for walks, bike rides, or just a drive along a curving county highway. Jim visited nearly every U.S. state (Hawaii was a highlight) and he and Sue explored many state and national parks together. At Christmastime, he played carols on the piano while the family decorated the tree and sang along.

When Jim was diagnosed with dementia in 2016 and forced to retire early, he expressed that his greatest fears were forgetting his loved ones’ faces, and of becoming violent towards his family. It is a testament to his character that his fears were focused not on himself, but on the impact to his family; and they are truly grateful that those greatest fears never came to pass. Jim lost pieces of himself to his terrible illness, but remained an agreeable, kind man to the end.

The family would like to thank the care teams at Bay Harbor of DeForest and Agrace Hospice. There will be a celebration of life in Wausau and details will be shared once they are available. While donations in his memory can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or to any group fighting dementia, seizing on the opportunity to tell a pun to an unsuspecting listener will honor him, too. He will be so very missed.