James E. Kirschbaum

BLOOMINGTON – James E. Kirschbaum, age 86, of Bloomington, Wisconsin, peacefully passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at Orchard Manor in Lancaster, Wisconsin surrounded by his family. He was born on February 10, 1938, the son of Edward & Lena (Nies) Kirschbaum. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1956 then served in the United States Army. Upon his return home, he traveled with the Bob Barnes Professional Rodeo Company, riding Bulls. After he hung up his bull rope, he built his legacy by following his lifelong passion into the livestock industry. 

In 1965, he met his wife Toni on a blind date at the Eau Claire Rodeo and the relationship turned into a lifelong marriage and business partnership. They married April 30,1966, at Immaculate Conception of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Jimmy’s livestock endeavors began in 1968 in Beetown, Wisconsin. The business was moved to Bloomington in 1996 where he remained active until his retirement. What most people refer to as customers and employees, Jimmy considered them family. He truly embodied the American dream; waking up every single day destined to make the others around him better and the best versions of themselves. Whether it was as a business owner, a family member, or friend – Jimmy was the one who saw sunshine on a cloudy day. 

From morning coffee at Ma’s Bakery to euchre at Boo Rays, he will forever be remembered for his quick wit, funny antics, and facial expressions. The number of people who were victims of his shenanigans is legendary. Everyone has a Jimmy story with a common theme. One’s story might start with a phone call to go for a ride only to end up in an unknown destination with an unknown return date. If he told you to bring a toothbrush you probably should have consulted with your wife in the first place. Everyone who knew Jimmy was aware of his adventures with animals including Boo Boo the bear (not enough time to cover those stories), several buffalo (that he always said were hard on fences), an alligator, deodorized skunk, coyote, pet falcon and lastly an attempt to purchase a monkey that was put to an abrupt stop when Toni said “it better know how to work a calculator”. After the attempted failed monkey purchase, his exotic pet adventures came to an end, and then it was back to business as usual.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years: Toni; his children: Kevin (Larissa), Carla (Jeff) Jensen, and Corey (Laura); ten grandchildren: Cody (Wendy), Emily (Celestino), Ashlee, Amanda (Kyle), Cameron (Kaylee), Tyler, Jack, Will, Callie, Colton; eight great-grandchildren; siblings: Mary Bausch, Janie (Jim) Smith, Rosie (Jerry) Trautsch, Joe (Jean) Kirschbaum, Gene (Mary) Kirschbaum, Suze (Randy) Gutknecht; in-Laws: Pam Kirschbaum, Dale Baumler, Pam Weiss, Terry (Joyce) Peterson, Vicki (Dave) Stein.

In addition to his parents, Jimmy was preceded in death by his brothers: Peter (Delores), Jerry and Ronald (in infancy), sister, Margaret Baumler; in-laws: David Weiss and David Bausch.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington with Father Sudhakar Devarapu officiating. Burial with military honors will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bloomington. Family and friends may visit on Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington and on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Bloomington is serving the family.  In lieu of plants and flowers, the family suggests memorials be given in Jimmy’s name to West Grant Rescue Squad or the Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department.