James D. Hatch passed away on April 2, 2024, at Brightstar Senior Living in Madison, Wisconsin. He was 90 years old.
Jim was born on April 16, 1933, in Lancaster, Wisconsin to Stanley Hatch and Helen Goebel Hatch. He graduated from Lancaster High School in 1951, excelling in several sports, including football, basketball, and track.
He received a scholarship to the University of Iowa, where he played football under Coach Forrest Evashevski and lettered at the halfback position in 1952 and 1954. He set the Iowa record for the longest run from scrimmage for a touchdown (78 yards) in 1953 against Illinois.
Upon graduation from Iowa, Jim entered the United States Air Force, receiving his wings as a Lieutenant and honorably discharged as a Captain, serving as a B-47 and F-100 pilot for three years based in San Angelo, Texas, Wichita, Kansas, Tucson Arizona, and Homestead, Florida.
In June 1956 Jim married Patricia Smith and they were married for sixty-one years until her death in 2018. They had four children (Sarah, Michael, Ann, and Jennifer) and were longtime residents of the Parkwood Hills neighborhood in Madison. During their years in Madison, they had many dear friends. They were associated with Bethel Lutheran Church, Nakoma Country Club, Madison Gyro Club, Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club, and the Iowa Letterman’s Club. Jim also attended St. James Lutheran Church in Verona. After he retired, Jim also read to elementary children as a volunteer for Madison Public Schools.
Jim began his career with the Pfizer Corporation in Wisconsin and moved his family to West Des Moines, Iowa in 1962. Moving to Madison in 1967, he worked at Vita Plus and later purchased Garver Feed and Supply Co. where he was co-owner for twenty-two years before retiring in 1997. Jim was so pleased that the City of Madison recently renovated Garver’s, now known as the Garver Feed Mill.
Jim was an avid golfer, skier, hunter, fisherman, softball, tennis and handball player. He golfed many rounds with Mike and Ann at Odana Hills, Nakoma and Glenway, skied with Jenny in Beaver Creek, and visited Sarah and her family often in Kansas City. Ski trips to Colorado and fishing trips to Wine Lake, Canada were particularly memorable for Jim. He also spent many years playing handball at the Westside YMCA, playing on the Octopus Car Wash softball team, and meeting friends at the Oakcrest Tavern. The Hatch’s were also longtime season ticket holders for Wisconsin football, basketball, and hockey; and they loved game days at Camp Randall and Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
In their later years, Jim and Pat enjoyed winters in Fort Myers Beach, FL, and Maui, HI where they spent their days on the beach, playing tennis and socializing with their friends and family. Jim spent five years living at Noel Manor. Jim recently moved to Brightstar Senior Living. The family would like to thank the Noel Manor and Brightstar staff for their compassionate care during Jim’s last years. Agrace Hospice also assisted Jim.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife Patricia, parents Stanley and Helen, brothers David and Toni, niece Melanie Ertz, and nephew Jim Ralph. He is survived by his sister Diane Ertz of Madison, daughter Sarah Glasrud (Scott) of Overland Park, KS; son Michael Hatch of Madison; daughter Ann Hatch (Lucy Hartenbach) of Appleton and Jennifer Hatch (Ken Hinchliffe) of Eagle, CO; and grandchildren Jason Glasrud (Brooke), Amy Bednarz (John), Zachary Hatch, Johnny Hatch, Ryan Hinchliffe, Emily Hinchliffe and Michael Hinchliffe; step grandchildren Katherine Konop-Wolf and Kalin Roethig and great-grandchildren, Ava Bednarz, Jack Bednarz, Evelyn Bednarz, Theodore Bednarz, Meredith Glasrud, Nina Glasrud and Vera Wolf; and many other nieces and nephews. He was known to his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Puck.” He is also survived by our dear friend Kristen and her four children, Amanda, Elizabeth, Georgia, and Savannah.
A visitation will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road on April 23, 2024, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm with a Celebration of Life from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Dahmen’s at Hawks Landing, 88 Hawks Landing Circle, Verona, WI. A family burial service will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery on April 24 at 11:00.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Agrace Hospice, Fitchburg, Wisconsin
