James D. Luhm

James D. Luhm, age 89, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2014. He was born to Anthony and Leona (Bonk) Luhm on June 11, 1925, in Chicago, Ill. He lived with his family in Eau Claire WI, and graduated high school at the age of 16 and joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. He attended NROTC at Brown College in Boston, Mass. and served on numerous naval ships.

He was highly decorated receiving many medals and commendations including WWII Victory medal, European and African Middle East Medal, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign Medal, also 2 National Defense Service Medals.

Jim was assigned duty to Baghdad, Iraq in 1952, as a naval attaché. It was there that he met the love of his life, Ida Kolesnick. They were married on June 21, 1952, and remained devoted to each other for 62 years.

Jim’s naval career provided him and his family the opportunity to be stationed in Washington D.C., Hawaii, Guam, Great Lakes Naval Center in Illinois, and La Crosse, WI.

He retired honorably from the Navy in 1970, after serving his country for 28 years. He served the city of Onalaska as City Assessor from 1971 to 1973, City Health Officer from 1973 to 1982, and part time postal worker from 1973 to 1975.

Jim and Ida enjoyed traveling. They visited every state and enjoyed the southern “Pan Handle” area where they escaped to every winter. They never missed a Mardi Gras.

Jim was an active member of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Onalaska.

Jim is survived by his wife, Ida (Kolesnick) Luhm, a daughter Janet Luhm of Eau Claire, a son Dennis (Nancy) Luhm of Holmen, a daughter-in-law, Ruthann (Walter) Luhm of New Lisbon, 7 grandchildren, Greg (Nicole) Beaver, Alexis Beaver, Lyndsay Luhm, Mica Luhm, Travis Luhm, Gina (Jason) Bailey, and Sara Luhm, 2 great-grandchildren, Silas Beaver and Ami Moe, and one sister Mary (Francis) Koppa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Anthony, Clarence “Brownie”, and Jerry Luhm, and a son Walter Luhm in 2009.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, August 28, 2014, in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., Onalaska, Wis. Msgr. Steven Kachel will officiate with burial with Military rites by the Struck-Klandrud Post 336 Onalaska American Legion to be held in the Onalaska Cemetery, Onalaska, Wis. Family and friends may visit on Wednesday from 4 to 7:00 PM at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1007 Caledonia St., La Crosse, Wis., with a Rosary to be held at 4:00 PM. Family and friends may also visit from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Thursday.