COTTAGE GROVE - James Joseph William “Jim” Guy Jr., age 90, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. According to the note written in his mother’s Bible, Jim was born at home on his family’s 144-acre dairy farm in Sparta, Wis., on April 24, 1933. He was the first-born son and fifth of thirteen children. His parents were Hazel (Pokrand) and James Guy, Sr.

Growing up, he farmed while learning in a one-room country schoolhouse before graduating from Sparta High School in 1950. Jim excelled in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. Particularly adept at showing cattle, his crowning farm-boy achievement was winning a $300 scholarship at the 1953 Chicago International Livestock Show. He put this money to good use as an agriculture student at UW-Madison, a long ten-year college journey stopping and starting to work on farms and odd jobs to fund his education. He graduated in 1960.

In Madison, Jim met and married Elizabeth ‘Betty' Blaney in 1962. He joined her family business, the Blaney Seed Corn Company, as a salesman. They had four children: Theresa, Mary, Catherine, and Jim III in an impressive four-year timespan. In 1971, the Guy family moved to their newly built home in Cottage Grove, buying an additional flat lot behind their house for an extra place for the kids to play. Throughout his long life, his passions were family, sports, travel, and community.

Jim was a charter member of the Cottage Grove Lions Club, rising to the ranks of District Governor. Together with Betty, they hosted many international exchange students, mostly through the Lions Youth Exchange program. He was the founder of the Wisconsin Lions Youth Exchange Camp. These relationships enriched his life with experiences like hosting his AFS daughter, Gabriela, whom the entire family visited in Peru in 1982, and walking one of his former Japanese international ‘kids’ down the aisle in Hawaii. As a Lion, he also made it possible for many local teenagers to have international exchange experiences. Valuing travel, he and Betty visited almost all fifty states and five continents passing along the legacy and love of travel to his children and grandchildren.

A Cottage Grove Village trustee with decades-long involvement in the Parks and Recreation program, Jim started the village’s first youth softball/t-ball/baseball programs in 1974; making good use of that empty lot behind the house. Working tirelessly as a volunteer to create places for kids to play, he later helped bring several parks to Cottage Grove. In 1997, Jim Guy Jr.'s field in Community Park was named in his honor.

As a sports fan, Jim loved watching his children and grandchildren’s sporting events. Football season was his favorite time of the year, enjoying Packers and Badgers games as a season ticket holder, often inviting friends to join in the fun. It was always a special day when one of his eight grandchildren could attend.

Jim is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Theresa (David) Ness, Mary Guy, Catherine (Scott) Tyink and James (Margaret) Guy III; grandchildren, Andrew (Palm) Tyink, Johnathan Guy, Austin Tyink, Erica Ness, Sarah Guy, Leah Ness, June Guy and Michael Guy; six brothers, Charles (Margaret) Guy, John (Geri) Guy, Richard (Ruth) Guy, Donald (Doris) Guy, Mike (Mary) Guy and Pat Guy; one sister, Geri Zlesak; sister-in-law, Marjorie Blaney; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Elizabeth Jane Guy, Isabel Beedle, Josephine Ashbaker, Johanna Seley and Alice Parker.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 434 N. Main St., Cottage Grove, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, with Father Paul Kais presiding. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday.

The family wishes to thank Jim's caregivers during the final year of his life from Drumlin Reserve of Cottage Grove, Harvest Home of Mount Pleasant, Brookside Care Center of Kenosha, St. Croix Hospice, and Hospice Alliance.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim’s name may be directed to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation (https://wlf.info/). Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

James Joseph William "Jim" Guy, Jr.

April 24, 1933 - December 28, 2023

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