James (Jim) Leo McMenamin passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on March 7, 2026, at the age of 71. Born and raised in Cornell, Wisconsin, on August 16, 1954, he was the only son among six siblings and cared deeply for his sisters. On September 29, 1973, he married Sally Jean Hakes, and together they raised four children.
Jim enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country for 12 years before being honorably discharged. He later worked as a mechanic until retirement. He cherished his role as the beloved babysitter to his 11 grandchildren, sharing his wisdom and love generously. In his spare time, Jim enjoyed helping others, seeing movies, camping, fishing, and hunting alongside his family. An active member of the VFW and American Legion in Cornell, he later joined the Wausau chapters upon moving back to the area.
Jim will be remembered for his generous spirit and willingness to assist anyone in need. Despite personal difficulties, he always went above and beyond for others. He adored all babies and had a special gift for making them smile and play with ease. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Kronenwetter).
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Sally Jean McMenamin; his children, James (Regina) McMenamin Jr., Denise (Chris) Hardman, Toni (Randy) Schilling, and Jennifer (Dennis) Plante; 11 grandchildren, Shannan, Nicole (Tristin), Elena (Ryan), Neil, James III, Felicity, Logan, Piper, Landon, Alivia, and Mckenzie; two great-grandchildren, along with four bonus great-grandchildren; and five sisters, Mary (Ron) Hartzell, Jeannine McMenamin, Colleen (Dan) Berg, Grace (Jeff) Skrzeczkowski, and Kate (Lylas) Oestreich. He also leaves behind many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Genevieve (Flood) McMenamin; his mother- and father-in-law, Russell and Donna Hakes; and his brother-in-law, Michael Hakes.
A celebration of life will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1901 Kowalski Rd, Kronenwetter, on March 27, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., with the service at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch. Burial will take place at Northwoods National Cemetery at a later date.
The family would like to thank Dr. Kyle Dettbarn of Oak Leaf Clinic, Eau Claire for his care and compassion through the last several years.
