James David Mortensen

Dear Christine and family ~ You have our sincerest condolences on your loss. Jim was a very special man with so many caring and loving friends. While we never got the chance to hear him play, we've heard that he was very well respected in his music profession and was an accomplished bass guitarist. May you find comfort in the memories you have of all the wonderful times you spent with Jim and know that he will always be with you in spirit until you meet again. Our hearts go out to you and our prayers are with you. ~ With Sympathy, Steve & Diane Rossman

We are so sorry for your loss. -Beth McConnell and Karen Darcy

We were so sorry to hear about Jim. You both were kindred spirits and will eventually be reunited. For now, know that we are praying for you Christine and the entire family. Love in Christ, Corkie & Tom Parrish

Dear Shannon, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thought and prayers are with you and your family.

Having grown up with Jim since Grade School and sharing many of the same teachers together, I never can remember Jim ever getting in trouble in school. Unlike me. Never would really call myself a "close" friend of Jim's, but knew he did have those that he hung around with during school. I remember him as being a smart kid. But just like up there where I don't remember him getting in trouble, it also wasn't much to be smarter than me. Just a "C" average student. I even think he was good in math and might have.............well...................uh.............maybe helped me on a math test or two. As our paths separated more and more during High School with his interest and mine, we graduated and never saw each other again..................until..........I believe 2005. I think that was the year we had a class re-union at the Madison's Businessmen's Center. Jim was there. I was glad to see him. We spoke for awhile and I talked to his new love of his life as well that day. They both told me how they met after so many years and I was really glad to hear their story. And I was happy for both Jim and his wife. For what I knew about Jim, he was a good classmate and from our last meeting, no doubt a good man and husband. Say a good word up there for me Jim. I'm going to need it. Ray Trosper

My memories of Jim start in 1963 in First Grade…….. I’d guess Jim was the one many may have tried to avoid and the one many wanted to get to know as he now and then got in trouble (as if none of the rest of us ever found trouble at that age)........... Jim and I had many of the same teachers through the years.... I got to know Jim best starting in Middle School as there was time to move class to class through the day and time to converse before school started in the morning and during lunch time. Jim was quit the talker (almost more than me). He had a lot of street smarts with a touch of BS added for good measure. ................ Jim and I had our things in common and areas that we were polar opposites. Teachers and Talking were the best, Physical Ed Class Ray, Carl, Larry, and I were amongst the top runners in our class and Jim and Scott brought up the rear.......... Some memorable events:.................................. 1st grade I recall Jim in the front of the class bent over Mrs. Laufman’s knees…….receiving a spanking……..That’s right try that in today’s school system…............................ In 5th grade I recall Mr. Klane’s Chalk Eraser with Deadly Accuracy …….Mr. Klane was in the front of the class speaking and threw his eraser narrowly missing me and hitting Jim, his target. Jim’s desk was near the back of the room, next row over and a couple of desks behind my desk. (Again try tossing an eraser in today’s society)................. Then there’s High School:.......................................... Jim was a member of the Waubesa Beach group of students, a very tight bunch of kids that I knew only a little about. I was the kid that didn’t really fit in any one group, I tried to be a jock, a nerd, a vegetable farmer, I just fell somewhere in the middle were Jim also included himself into at times along with Rick, Gary, Dale and others....................... Maybe our Junior year Jim was a sight to see when he was wearing his overalls…..(and maybe nothing else under them…. (Eye Soap Please)……….It was also getting harder to talk to Jim as later years in school he did not like to come to school on Mondays and Fridays........... I was always known as a big eater, skinny as a rail but big eater. When it came to Lunch time I would load my lunch tray with FOOD. Lunch was my best High School subject, something that I really excelled in...... Jim would always come rushing by the table that I was seated at and grab a handful of my butter and bread sandwiches. ....Jim did not participate in the Hot Lunch program. I was not going to Rat on Jim about the sandwiches so I just loaded up more on my tray so that I would still have some left for me after Jim swiped what he could grab. ..........Looking back I guess it was a game, he would see how many he could grab I would see how many I could still have left. I guess the volume of sandwiches I took was not a problem for the Lunch Cooks as the Cooks always saw that my tray was empty when I turned it in...................... This went on for years until I guess one day I just got tired of it. I was seated on the end of the table, Jim swooped in from my left grabbed the sandwiches but then he made the mistake of rounding the table behind me to my right, I am right-handed and just happened to have a fork in my hand and that fork then made a lasting impression deep in Jims left forearm. I brought the fork back and to my dismay I had buried the fork in his arm with enough force that I bent the fork. (Opps!)................ I did not know it then but 15 years later my Mother told me that she was called and had to go into school to plead for me to not be disciplined for my actions. ....................... Not knowing then of the severity of what I did, I never got the chance to apologize for having the fork in my hand and doing what I did that day.................. Last I saw Jim was at our 5 year class reunion, we were at Waubesa Beach. I was on the flat in the crowd and saw Jim and a few others up on the hill watching from the distance. I walked over to him and talked and (Talked) for a while.......................... My thoughts and Prayers go out to Jim’s family. Jon Coyle