James Amundson

James Helmer Amundson, age 84, passed away on Tue. Aug. 29, 2017. Jim was born Dec. 4, 1932 in Baraboo, WI.
Jim loved his hometown of Baraboo. He attended St. Joseph's through 8th grade and then went on to Baraboo High School. After a semester at UW-Madison, Jim went into the Army where he was a maintenance electrician and spent time on Baffin Island and Thule, Greenland. He returned to UW-Madison, married Margaret Steckel, and received a degree in economics. He worked for many years in the insurance business and was also a Dane County Supervisor for many years, followed by Dane County Treasurer. He served on a number of boards including the Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board and the board of Operation Fresh Start. Jim was very committed to serving the community. Jim loved singing in the car, along to records, and just any old time- and played the guitar- including a special family song we called 'Fox, The 44'. He was an accomplished woodworker and fine illustrator. He enjoyed nature so much - especially the Baraboo Bluffs, birds and nightly 'deer rides' at near dusk. He was a hunter and fisherman for many years and enjoyed backwoods camping- nearly always in the state of Wisconsin. In the week before his death Jim said 'I had a great life' and his family is very happy he felt that way. He was preceded in death by his parents Leone (Post) Amundson and Helmer Amundson; siblings Allyn Amundson, Robert Amundson, and Kay Prosser. He is survived by his sister Sue Ebert, former wife Margaret (Steckel) DeVault, children Marjorie Schildknecht, John Amundson and Elizabeth Amundson; grandchildren Allison Cavis and Rebecca Knauer (Marjorie's daughters); Alexa and Emily Amundson (John's daughters) and Julian Sailing (Elizabeth's son); very special friend Barb Stone of Baraboo, sister-in-law Jane Amundson and many nieces and nephews he thought of fondly and often. A favorite of Jim's (say it fast and joyfully): "In every heart there burns a flame for the love of glory and the dread of shame, but oh how happy we would be in we only understood that there is no safety but in doing good." Ramblin' Jack Elliott - The Ballad of John Henry.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday Sept. 2, 2017 at ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH, 300 2nd St. Baraboo. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the Mass at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the church.
In Lieu of flowers, donations to Friends of Devil's Lake State Park would honor Jim's love of that very special place.

Cress
Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
608-238-3434