James R. Howard

James Robert Howard, age 64, of Bancroft, WI passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at his home.

He was born July 5, 1958 in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Robert and Margaret (Taylor) Howard.  He married Stacey E. Carlson on May 20, 2006.

Jim had a great love of farming since high school and enjoyed raising beef cattle and hogs with his son Wyatt on their family farm.  He was a semi driver, working for Moodie, Inc. and driving for several local farms. Jim was a skilled machinist, working at several machine shops near his hometown of Pecatonica, IL until he moved to WI and purchased his own machine shop, F & F Machine of Central WI.

Jim also enjoyed fishing with his family, hunting, country music, rodeos, the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs & Wisconsin Badgers, and especially loved watching his son Wyatt run cross country. Jim had a great sense of humor and loved going home to IL to visit family, which always included a stop at Cimino’s in Pecatonia for lasagna.

He is survived by his wife, Stacey Howard; sons Wyatt James Howard and Jason Allen Howard; granddaughter, Madison Taylor Howard; sister, Cindy (Mark) Nielcen; nieces, Jennifer Remmers, Alicia Barkley, Ashley Nielcen; great nieces Kirstin & Shell Gierhart, great great nieces Ivy, Kaylin & Kaydence; mother-in-law Janet Footit, special friends George & Tonya Nigh and fur babies Charlie, Itty Bitty & Angel, as well as other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Merle Footit and Stacey’s grandparents Llewelyn & Carrie Schroeder.

Visitation will be held at Stahl Funeral Home, Plainfield, WI on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10:00 am until time of Memorial at 12:30 pm, Pastor Mark Nielcen, officiating. Burial at Plainfield Cemetery and a luncheon afterwards.  The family would like to thank the first responders and everyone for their assistance.