James E. Grabar went to meet our Creator in Heaven March 15, 2016.

Jim was born to Leota (Green) Grabarkiewicz and Edward Grabarkiewicz on August 17^th, 1926 in Owatonna, Mn.  The family moved to La Crosse in 1942 where Jim attended Aquinas High School.

In 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific aboard LST 482 during World War 2. He saw action in New Guinea, Guam/Saipan and the Philippines. Jim was the recipient of numerous Active Duty Ribbons and four Battlestars.  He was discharged from the Navy in 1946 and joined the U.S Marine Corp and served stateside duty until 1948.

He married Dorothy Cross in 1948 and they had two children. They were divorced in 1996.

He was employed at Consumers Bakery and then became manager of the Bakery Department at Super Valu until 1977. He owned and operated Sugar and Spice Bakery Shoppe on Mormon Coulee Rd. until 1983 when the business was sold. He then joined Mark-It Foods in Winona, Mn. Jim was bakery manager until he semi-retired in 1991. He was contacted by Fred Wakeen and was soon employed by Fazee’s Restaurant and Bakery as night baker.

Jim married Sharon Powers in March of 1997 and was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Holmen. He was also a member of the American Legion, Post 336 in Onalaska, WI. the Wisconsin LST Association and the United States National LST Association.

He will be deeply missed and remembered by his wife, Sharon and daughter Yvonne Shaw (Bob Pleau) of Brooklyn Park, Mn. and son Steven Grabarkiewicz of Cottage Grove, Mn. step-daughter Deb (Chris)Pretasky and granddaughters, Lisa Pretasky (Onalaska) and Angie (Pretasky) Myhlhousen (Cedar Rapids, Ia). He is also survived by step-son Danny Powers, and grandchildren Becky (Chicago, Ill), Joseph (Seattle, Wa) He is further survived by nephews Patrick Yeager, Mike Yeager, and Eddie Grabarkiewicz, nieces Sue (Yeager) Ramey and Debra Grabarkiewicz and their spouses and families. Nephew John Yeager passed into eternity in December of 2013.

Jim will be greeted in Heaven with open arms by his parents, brother John Grabarkiewicz and sister Virginia (Joe) Yeager and nephew John Yeager.

Because Jim joined the Navy before graduating from Aquinas he always regretted the fact that he did not have a High School diploma, so in 2001 he honorably received his High School diploma from Aquinas. The governor of Wisconsin stated that any Veteran leaving high school to participate in World War II was entitled to receive his diploma and Aquinas gladly complied. In fact, he graduated with his granddaughter, Lisa Pretasky, in the same class.

Jim lived his life as a compassionate, gentle and loving man. He was an avid reader and was suspected of having a Photographic Memory. He remembered things taught to him in elementary school. He remembered names and places he had been and people that he had met all through his 87 plus years. Jim liked nothing better than to get into the car and travel to many of our states in the U.S. He was the most curious, observant and inquisitive individual, and always managed to see tiny details that most of us would never recognize.

One of his greatest legacies will be his honor and dedication to serving his country and remembering other Veterans who have also served our great United States. He served his nation and his family with love and commitment and we honor a man whose presence bettered the lives of all he met.

God be with you, James Grabar, you have done more for us than we can know, and mean more to us then you will ever know. We will love you forever.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 10:30 am at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 515 N Main St., Holmen. Father John Parr will celebrate with interment at the Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the mass at the church. Military Honors will be provided by the Onalaska American Legion Post 336.