James Brock

Waukesha, WI —James K. Brock, age 97, died on June 7, 2015 at home from natural causes.

A strong, gentle man of responsibility and universally admired for his personality and judgement, Jim remained sharp and jovial until the end. He could design and build most anything using either metal or wood and knew how to properly use just about any tool ever made. At the same time, he was very much at home with his computer and enjoyed enhancing photographs using Photoshop.

Jim is survived by his committed life partner, Jean Skaife, and three children: Robert, Richard and Russell. He also leaves behind six grandchildren, JoAnne Garbe, John Brock, Michael Brock, Jason Brock, Jeremy Brock and Taylor Hofman along with nine great grandchildren. His younger brother, George Brock, resides in Colorado Springs, CO.

Growing up on farms in Georgia and Indiana, where he developed his strong work ethic, Jim was the oldest son of James and Maude Brock. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he taught high school and coached football in Nebraska. He eventually entered medical school at the University of WI, where he met his wife, Jean Schefft, with whom he had three sons and was married to for 51 years before her passing in 1992. His deep love for and devotion to his wife never ended.

Jim left medical school to join the Navy after WWII started, where he earned the Bronze Star. Among other duties, he was the Harbor Master for the Port of New York, and then the Harbor Master in the Philippine Islands, where his job was to determine the daily routes for military and merchant ships, in order for them to avoid the ever-changing mine fields planted between islands by the Japanese. He retired from the Navy as a Commander after 22 years of active duty and reserve service.

After the war, with two young boys and a wife to support, Jim could not return to medical school, so he worked for the Veterans Administration in vocational rehabilitation, evaluating ill, injured and wounded veterans and assisting them in training for and securing meaningful work. In 1954, his VA experience led him to the newly created Curative Workshop, a Red Feather agency, where he conceived of and started the first sheltered workshop in the country, evaluating ill and injured civilians and training them up for new jobs by having them work in an actual production environment while getting paid. Over his career, Jim was responsible for the successful rehabilitation of literally thousands of veterans and civilians.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 12, 2015 from 4:00pm until the time of the 6:00pm funeral service at the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha, WI. Reverend Bill Humphreys will preside. A private family burial will be held on Saturday at Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's name are appreciated to the International Crane Foundation, PO Box 447, Baraboo, WI 53913.

Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.