STOUGHTON - James E. “Jim” Leikness, age 79, of Stoughton, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on Sept. 1, 1942, in Stoughton, Wis., the ninth child of fifteen to Henry and Olivia (Offerdahl) Leikness.

Jim graduated from Stoughton High School in 1960. After high school, he attended MATC. While going to school, he worked for the Stoughton newspapers. When at the paper, he had an accident that caused him to be in the hospital for 5 ½ months. It’s there that he met the love of his life, Louise (Nelson). They married in Rice Lake, Wis. on Nov. 24, 1962, and had three children, Todd, Brad and Julie. They eventually settled in Stoughton where he opened his own business, The Print Shop, which changed names to Viking Press. He owned and operated his business until his retirement. After his retirement, you could find him out at Coachman’s Golf Resort where he was a starter for many years. He made many friends while there and enjoyed making them laugh. He enjoyed congregating with the people at Coachman’s with a cocktail. He could be heard saying, “I can still see the TV” (as he would hold his glass up to see if it was too weak).

Jim was involved in many organizations during his lifetime: Stoughton Youth Hockey, Optimist Club, Stoughton Junior Fair Board, Coachman’s Golf League and the Wisconsin Amputee Golf Association.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Louise; children, Todd, Brad (Kris) and Julie (Kurt) Gilkes; grandchildren Tyler (Fiancé Bailey Smith) and Ryan Leikness, Kelsey Leikness, Craig (Alicia), Brock (fiancé Morgan Shippy) and Allison Gilkes; step grandchildren, PJ (Melissa) and Becky (Jason Steinberh) Johnson; 6 great-grandchildren; siblings Phyllis Porod, Beverly Hefty, Linda (Bill) Olson, Susan Foye, Kathleen Jacobs and Steve (Cindy) Leikness; sister-in-law Ruth Cain; special friends Bob and Sue Schiller; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ivar and Alice Nelson; siblings, Henry, Louise Femrite, Helen Anderson, Florence Sproul, Donny, Virginia Vike, Freddy and Phillip.

A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON STOUGHTON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St., Stoughton, at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, followed by a luncheon. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday.

Memorials may be made to Agrace HospiceCare. A special thank you to Missy, Paris, Jenny and the rest of the staff at Agrace that took such good care of him. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Remember, Dad, only a thimble.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Highway 51 N. @Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590

James Leikness

September 01, 1942 - August 04, 2022

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