In Remembrance

Jim E Claude, 93, ascended into the arms of Jesus on April 2, 2026. Jim was born on April 21, 1932 with his twin brother, Joe, to Joseph and Louise Claude in Frederic, Wisconsin. In 1936 the family moved to a farm in Centuria, Wisconsin. In 1952 he enlisted in the Air Force, completed basic training in Biloxi, Mississippi and then served as a Chaplin’s Assistant in Landsburg, Germany from 1952-1956. While stationed in Lansberg, Germany they adopted their son, Jeffrey Ellyn. After his discharge, they returned to the Centuria area and adopted their daughter, Kathryn Louise.

He grew up in the Methodist Church in Centuria where he and Ramona met when they were five years old at Sunday School when Ramona’s family attended in the winters. They attended a two room school and were in the same classroom every other year. They married on February 16, 1952 and celebrated 72 years together. A couple of Jim’s fondest memories were when Ramona kissed him on the cheek at recess when he was in first grade and another was seeing Ramona walk down the aisle at their wedding.

Jim achieved his Bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Master’s of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He was employed in several different fields. He sold encyclopedias, worked on the family farm, was a yard man at a summer resort, cleaned fish, was a waiter, worked at Stokely VanCamp as a weigh master during pea and corn harvests, worked in a refrigerator factory, was a hardware clerk and church custodian. HIs primary careers were in education as an Elementary Supervisor and Principal, also as a Residential and Area Manager for a subsidized housing management company. He was a Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Wisconsin Public Schools. He taught at Junior High and Junior College levels. During his years in education, he proposed and oversaw elementary school building projects and served as a president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. He was instrumental in changing the grading system for elementary students in Wisconsin and presented his proposal at the National ASCD convention in the early 1970’s. Jim held numerous board and committee positions on local and statewide education and church organizations. He retired in 2006.

Jim was involved in several committees and wherever needed at the churches he attended. He was proud of being instrumental in the church building projects at Grantsburg, Black River Falls and Superior. He liked to help organize events and day trips for Bayside’s Senior Adult group. He made it a point to meet new people who came to church and welcome them.

Family outings often included attending MN Twins games and going to the Minnesota State Fair as well as swimming and family picnics. He and Ramona enjoyed camping at the state campgrounds, particularly two weeks each year at Pattison State Park and the Interstate State Park in St. Croix Falls. Jim enjoyed maintaining their yards and gardens as well as the landscaping at their churches. When possible, Jim helped at Wood Lake Baptist Camp’s work and clean-up days. He enjoyed sports, especially the Brewers and Twins baseball, basketball and Packer and Viking football.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Ramona, son, Jeffrey, parents, Joseph and Louise Claude, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Howard and Katie Anderson, sisters, Marjorie, Beverly, Lorraine and brother, Donald.

He is survived by his brother, Joe of Frederic, daughter Kathryn (Doug) Stetzer of Superior, grandchildren, Curt (Chiharu) Thompson, Stephanie (Tim) Stetzer, Justin (Kristen) Stetzer, Jeffrey (Chris) Claude, Sina Claude, Ann (Cory) Haasnoot, Daniel (Mellisa) Stalheim and several great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be at Bayside Baptist Church, 3915 N 16th St, Superior, WI on May 30, 2026. Visitation from 10:00-11:00 am, 11:00 am Service, lunch to follow. Interment will be June 27, 2026, 2 pm at the New Home Cemetery, 2254 220th Ave., St. Croix Falls, WI.