James Marshall, Jr.

Madison - James Grant Marshall Jr., age 78, was born to eternal life on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at HospiceCare Inc. in Fitchburg, WI. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and family after a long, difficult battle with Lewy body dementia.
Jim was born on March 24, 1933 in Madison, Wisconsin. The third child of James Grant and Margaret Pirie Marshall Sr. He spent his childhood in Madison, Wisconsin graduating from West High School in 1951. He studied geology at the University of Wisconsin for two years before serving in the Army's military police during the Korean War.
Jim married Patricia Ann Peotter on June 30, 1956. Their two sons John and Jim were born during the early years of their marriage. In 1961 the family moved to Springfield, New Jersey where his daughters Heather and Sarah were born.
While in New Jersey Jim served on the staff of the United Presbyterian Foundation in New York City. In 1970 the family moved back to Madison where Jim joined the staff of Methodist Hospital as their Director of Resource Development. During Jim's professional career he served as a pioneer in the development of bequests and gift programs for non-profit organizations. In 1987 he was honored with the Harold J. (Si) Seymour National Honors Award for his distinguished leadership in the field of hospital philanthropy. He served on the boards of many non-profit, service minded organizations.
While Jim's professional career was remarkable, it was his faith and his family that were the center of Jim's life. Laughter, prayer and time spent outside were hallmarks of his time here. He loved traveling, whether taking a carload of kids out West or a 'roamin' holiday" with his wife on the back roads of Wisconsin. Gardening brought Jim great joy and throughout his lifetime he spent countless hours with his boots in the soil alongside his father, wife and children.
Jim had a servant heart and was a beautiful model of love and grace. He loved to spend time serving his church in a myriad of ways from Sunday school teacher to elder to grounds keeper. He found delight in spending time with the friends and family that he loved. His grandchildren lit up his smile and his life. We will miss him in ways we are only beginning to comprehend and yet we know how much he would want us to continue to celebrate life.
Jim is survived my his wife, Patricia Ann (Peotter) Marshall, his children John Grant Marshall and his wife Julia (Braucht), James Grant Marshall III and his wife Margaret (Fruth), Heather Ann Marshall Watts and her husband Daniel, Sarah Marshall Hasslekus and her husband John, his sister Jane Newton Marshall Hill, his brother William Grant Marshall (Patricia). He was also survived by his nine grandchildren: Grant (Jennifer), Alex, Lucas, Alyssa (Josh), Natalie, Jessica, Megan, Carolyn, and Julia. Jim is also survived by many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents Margaret White Pirie Marshall and James Grant Marshall Sr., his infant brother, and his brother-in-law Stanley Earl Hill.
There will be a Celebration of Jim's life at 1:00 on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4100 Nakoma Road, Madison, WI with a brief visitation beginning at noon and a reception following.
Thank you to the staff at East Shore Adult Day Center, All Saints Memory Care, Southwest Senior Health Center in Platteville and HospiceCare in Fitchburg for the kind, compassionate, responsive care for Jim.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be directed to East Shore Adult Day Center in Monona, WI; Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Center in Fitchburg, WI; Madison Public Libraries; and Westminster Presbyterian Church, Madison, WI.