James D Sharpe

James David Sharpe, age 99, passed peacefully on April 8th, 2022 surrounded by the love of his family. Jim was born on November 23, 1922 BC (Before Computers) in Council Grove, Kansas to James Homer Sharpe and Avis Jenkins Sharpe. Jim grew up on an apple orchard with his parents and younger sister, Emogene and graduated from Council Grove High School in 1940. Jim attended Kansas State University until he enlisted in the US Army in 1942. He completed basic training in Anniston, AL and attended Officer Training School. As a lieutenant Jim was assigned to the 69th Infantry Division. His division was sent to England in Dec. 1944. They were quickly rushed to Belgium to replace a decimated infantry division in the final weeks at the Battle of the Bulge. Jim spent a frigidly cold winter in the Belgium forest on the German border. Jim was promoted to second in command of his rifle company. As frontline troops, his company marched through enemy towns, rode tanks, and fought their way across Germany. The 69th Division and armored unit freed Leipzig, Germany, the largest city liberated by the Allies. Jim led six patrols in attempt to meet the Russian Army. A unit later linked up with the Russian Army on the Elbe River in 1945. After the war Jim was assigned to the 29th Division to research and write the history of the 29th Division including the assault on Omaha Beach during D Day. Later Jim was assigned to oversee a Labor Supervision Camp of former German POWs. For one former German soldier, Jim procured oil paints and boards so that the former soldier could paint in the evenings. In gratitude for Jim’s kindness, the soldier presented an incredible portrait of Jim. 2500 former German soldiers were officially discharged by Jim. When Jim came home from Germany in 1946, he was promoted to captain in the Army Reserve.

Jim returned to Kansas State University to complete his degree in Industrial and Scientific Journalism. In 1948 Jim moved to Chicago as an advertising manager of a fertilizer company. In 1950 Jim met and married his dear wife, Sally Nichols, at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago.

In 1951 Jim and Sally moved to Council Grove, Kansas to operate a furniture store and raise their four children: Mary, Nancy, Jim and Sarah. In 1961 Jim and Sally moved their family to Oshkosh, WI. Jim and Sally opened James Sharpe Furniture Store and successfully ran the store until their retirement in 1987.

During those years Jim was a member of the Wisconsin Retail Furniture Association and served as its president for four years. Jim was an active member of Southwest Rotary Club of Oshkosh for 57 years, serving on the environmental and beautification committees. Jim was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oshkosh where he served as an Elder and a Deacon. Jim drove a Red Cross van transporting veterans to doctor appointments; mentored new business owners as a member of SCORE for fourteen years; enthusiastically volunteered at the Experimental Aircraft Association for 33 years; and attended many Learning In Retirement classes. Jim was always curious and loved learning. He kept notecards in his hip pocket to write trivia facts to later share with others. Jim called these cards “his brains in his pocket.”

Jim loved to ski, sail, travel and help others. Jim was deeply committed to his wife Sally of 71 years; his children: Mary (Joel Pfeiffer), Nancy (Ed Ferree), Jim (Cindy Sharpe), and Sarah (Don Kennedy); his eight grandchildren: David, Katie, Andrew, Elizabeth (Ferree); Jarred, Airen (Pfeiffer); Jimmy, Alyssa (Sharpe), and his four great-grandchildren: Connor, Evan (Beeble); Oliver (Watts); Tatum (Ferree). He loved his family dearly and shared many hours with them. After a long day of work Jim always spent time with his children, taking them out fishing, sailing, skiing, or just playing outside.

He was loving, kind, and funny. In his last years Jim was grateful for the loving care he received at Heritage Senior Living in Hartland, WI and from Brighton Hospice. Jim always thanked everyone for their help. Jim gave each caregiver a compliment, a clever response, or a joke. “My, you have pretty eyes … and a sparkling smile under that mask!” or “Look at all the rings on your fingers! You must have a lot of boy-friends!” or “I’ll take a cold beer on your way out.” or “ How can I live in Wisconsin and not ask for a beer?” That was Jim’s way to uplift others every day.

Memorial services will be held on May 14 at the First Congregational UCC Church in Hartland, WI. Visitation will begin at 11 am with the service at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Oshkosh Community Foundation or the First Presbyterian Church of Oshkosh.

The service will be live streamed and may be viewed via Zoom using the following link:


https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85079104610?pwd=OHhpeFFteUh6eE0rcjhRdmJlZS93QT09

Meeting ID: 850 7910 4610

Passcode: 767826