James A. Hart, Jr. “Jim”, 58, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin died on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at Luther-Mayo Hospital in Eau Claire.
He was born June 20, 1949, to James and Betty (Mittelstadt) Hart in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and Eau Claire Regis High School, and worked at Uniroyal for several years. In 1974, he moved to Alaska to work on the Alaska pipeline, first at the Isabel Pass Base Camp and later accepting various positions of increasing responsibility in materials management director at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. Jim’s many passions included sitting on the Board of Directors for the Yukon Quest, other volunteer activities, and riding his lawn mower on the banks of the Badger Slough in North Pole, Alaska. Jim was united in marriage to his wife, Cindy Cutler, on December 31, 1977. Jim and Cindy made their home in North Pole, Alaska, for more than 25 years before relocating to Eau Claire in 2002, following the death of Jim’s brother, John Patrick Hart, in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
Jim is survived by his wife, Cindy; five children, Hanna Blankenship (John), North Pole, Alaska, Daniel (Alisha) Hart, North Pole, Alaska, Joseph Hart, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Amy Hart, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Angela Hart, Burnsville, Minnesota; his five grandchildren, Kaden James Hart, North Pole, Alaska, Amber and Rachel, Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Julia Lane and Christian James, Burnsville, Minnesota; his mother and stepfather, Betty Hart Mathwig and Ed Mathwig, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; his four sisters, Christine Hart Reichert, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Jeanine Hart, San Diego, California, Mary Hart Meixelsperger (Jeff), Middleton, Wisconsin, and Sandra Hart Shelley (Tim), Eau Claire, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Laurie Hart of Hudson, Ohio; step-brother, James Mathwig (Patti), Tucson, Arizona; step-sisters, Joyce Wheeler (Rich), Millbrae, California, Judy Kirk (Dennis), Reno, Nevada, and Mary Jane Brazil (Greg), Albany, California. Jim is also survived by nieces and nephews, Jaime (Doug) Ebert and Alexander, Austin, and McKenzie, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Jared Hart (fiancée Beth Giannola), Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Bradley and J. Todd Seaman, San Diego, California, Katelyn and Anna Wolfenberger, Middleton, Wisconsin, Jenny and John Meixelsperger, Middleton, Wisconsin, Jeff Hart, Amy Gruver (Ty), Olivia and Samuel Westin Hart, and Emily Hart of Hudson, Ohio, Brandon, Eric and Nicole Shelley, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and many aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters-in- law and cousins.
Jim was preceded in death by his loving father, James A. Hart, Sr.; his brother, John Patrick Hart, his maternal grandparents, Pearl and Fred Mittelstadt; and his paternal grandparents, Tena and Arthur Hart.
Jim had a special place in his heart for his dogs, Mattie and Heidi.
Jim's family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Nambudiri and the nurses at Luther Hospital who took such good care of Jim during his many visits. He called you his Earth Angels.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 27, 2007, at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, 322 Fulton St., Eau Claire with Father William A. Dhein officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire. Visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave., Eau Claire.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the James Hart, Jr. Family, 3344 Damon St., Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701.