James W. Soman, age 72, of Fennimore, died on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, at the Fennimore Good Samaritan Society. James was born on August 12, 1945 in Green Bay, WI the son of Walter and Elizabeth (Wedewart) Soman.
Jim moved to Livingston in 1959 and graduated from Iowa-Grant High School. He received his degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison and then graduated from U.W. Madison Law School. Jim married Jane Hazlewood on June 7, 1975 in Fairwater, WI. He worked for Conrad Frantz until starting his own practice in 1981. Jim owned and operated Soman Law Office until retiring in 2003. He was very active in his community and church. He was a member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and member of the Praise Choir. Jim also served on the Dwight T. Parker Library Board, the Fennimore Scholarship Foundation and the Fennimore American Legion. He also enjoyed traveling, able to visit all 50 states, gardening, was a Civil War enthusiast, and an avid baseball fan and card collector. Jim adored his family, loved his grandchildren and always loved visiting with people. Jim’s enthusiastic personality and his zest for life will truly be cherished forever.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife Jane of Fennimore; three children, Rebecca (Dion) Burkholder of Oregon, WI, Ben (Noel) Soman of Fond du Lac and Peter (Erin) Soman of Verona; five grandchildren, Austin, Emmitt and Callum Burkholder, Josephine Soman and Graham Soman; and siblings, John (Sharon) Soman of Jackson, WI, Fred (Nancy) Soman of Eden Prairie, MN, Bill (Jean) Soman of Pinecrest, FL, Dan (Kitty) Soman of Livingston and Sara (Ron) Flack of Owatonna, MN.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fennimore with burial to follow in the Rock Church Cemetery in rural Livingston. Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. on Thursday afternoon at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Friday morning.