James Henry Bruce

James H. Bruce 'Big Jim', 59 of Oconomowoc, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2014. Jim fought a courageous battle but victory was not to be. Jim is survived by his sisters Jane Ann (friend Bob White) Bruce of Nashotah and Barbara Jean (fiancee Mark Gempeler) Johnson, nieces Bekki (Dan) Chapman of Nashville and Kristin Johnson of St. Louis along with many other relatives and friends. Jim is preceded in death by his daughter Erin, parents Henry and Esther and brother in-law Mike. Jim was the owner of his pride and joy, Big Jim's Small Engine Repair Shop in Oconomowoc. Jim enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson and flying his radio controlled airplanes. He was an avid NASCAR and Packer fan. Jim will be dearly missed by his family, customers and all that knew him. Funeral service for Jim will be held at Pagenkopf Funeral Home in Oconomowoc on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 10:30 AM. Visitation will be held Friday, July 25, 2014 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM and again on Saturday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service, all to be held at the funeral home. Jim will be laid to rest at LaBelle Cemetery in Oconomowoc on Saturday immediately following the service. Pastor Dan Helwig of Lord of Life Lutheran Church will serve the family. Special thank you to the entire caring medical staff at Oconomowoc Memorial, Waukesha Memorial, LifeCare and Froedtert Lutheran Memorial Hospitals. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Kidney Fund (www.kidneyfund.org).