James G. Nirschl

On Friday, October 16, 2015, thirteen days following his 92nd birthday, Jim “Ol’ Fox” Nirschl peacefully crossed over in his sleep from his long earthly life into eternal life, joining his family and dear friends – human, hairy, and furry – who had been waiting patiently for him on the other side.  

Jim was born October 3, 1923, in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin to George and Viola Nirschl.  He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School.  He enlisted in and served in the US Navy in the Pacific during World War II from November of 1942 through March of 1946, loading bombs on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Princeton and was proud to be a “plank owner,” ending his Navy service in 1946.  Jim attended La Crosse State Teachers College via the GI bill beginning in 1946, where he met and fell head over heels in love with Evelyn “Chick” Dziedzic, his future wife, who was a senior at La Crosse when he was a freshman.  They married in June of 1949.  With his major in physical education and minors in math and science, he graduated with scholastic honors in the top 10 of his class in 1950 as a member of the National Honor Society and the Alpha Delta Theta Fraternity.   

Jim began teaching physical education and health at Kimberly High School in 1950, where he taught for 35 years.  During summers while his kids were in elementary school, he was the head lifeguard at the Kimberly Clark Clubhouse swimming pool, teaching hundreds of Kimberly kids to swim and earn their “cookie tag” for the privilege of swimming on the deep side of the pool.  He was the varsity baseball coach from 1951 to 1986, assistant varsity football coach from 1950 to 1954, and then varsity football head coach for 10 years.  He also coached freshman basketball for four years, reserves basketball for two years, varsity volleyball for three years, varsity golf for two years, and was Athletic Director for 4-1/2 years.  He coached many of his Kimberly High School baseball team members as well as other players from the northeastern Wisconsin area in American Legion baseball during summers from 1969 through 1980.  Jim was famous for his performances for the student body at pep rallies as Professor Heinrich Von Schnitzendunker, who would return from Germany to lead the students in cheering their teams to victory at State High School basketball tournaments.  Jim also created the famous Papermaker Wasp character which adorns uniforms and helmets as the logo for Kimberly High School athletic teams. 

Jim was elected and became a charter member of Wisconsin High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, a charter member of Kimberly Coaches Hall of Fame, and was inducted into La Crosse University Wall of Fame in 1993.  He was a recipient of Red Smith Athletic Award in 1980.  Kimberly Athletics Department and Kimberly High School officials honored Jim by naming John R. Gerrits Junior High campus baseball diamond after him.  The players on his teams called him ‘the Ol’ Fox’, the name which is displayed on the marquee at the baseball diamond on Kennedy Avenue in Kimberly.  His records while coaching at the smallest school in the Mid-Eastern Conference – later becoming the Fox Valley Association Conference – brought a football championship in 1955 and baseball championships in 1954 through 1959 and again in 1984.

The family lived on East First Street in Kimberly for 12 years, until the home became too small for a family of eight.  In 1966, Jim helped to build the place he called home for the remainder of his days.  

After retiring from his teaching career in 1987, Jim immensely enjoyed golfing with his buddies Gil Frank and Walt Rennebohm, former high school baseball players Matt Vanden Boom, Tim Peerenboom, and many others, telling the “same old” jokes and tall stories with close friends Bob Lloyd and many other former area coaches and retired teachers.  He loved fishing – since childhood – at various lakes, rivers, and streams. He shared this with his kids and grandkids as they grew, Chick’s dad, Stan, and other close friends.  He also shared Canadian fishing trips with daughter Bunny, son Matt, and Matt’s sons. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Evelyn (“Chick”), son Matthew (Cindy), West Bend, daughter, Patti Lee Crawford (Ron), Aurora, Colorado, daughter Jane (Fred) Laitinen, Green Bay, daughter Anna (“Bunny”) Hanneman, Darboy, and son, Andy (Jennifer), Combined Locks; grandchildren Benjamin (Cathy) Nirschl and their kids (great-grandchildren) Kimberly and Natalie; Abraham Nirschl, Samantha Nirschl, Jimmy Naccaratto, John Laitinen, and Taylor Nirschl.  Jim’s parents, George and Viola Nirschl, his brother, Robert, son, James P. Nirschl, and his ol’ buddy, Chester, of Gunsmoke fame preceded him in crossing over to eternal life.  Those who knew Jim/Dad best will know why Chester merited the special mention.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2015, at Holy Spirit Parish, 620 E. Kimberly Ave, Kimberly. Visitation will be on Friday, October 30, 2015 at the Church from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and again Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the mass. Interment and full military honors will take place at Holy Angels Cemetery, Darboy, following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Jim’s name. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

Thank you all, dear friends, who have been a part of Jim’s life and joys and those who have helped him through the more recent difficult times when he suffered with health issues.  Thank you to the Hospice caregivers who assisted Jim on his journey, especially Judy Haas, Anna Petit, and Michelle.  You will always be in our hearts. 

God bless all who knew and loved him.  

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