July 10, 2019 at 5:05 p.m.
James J. "Snuffy" Jankowski Sr.
James J. "Snuffy" Jankowski Sr.
Jim was born Monday, Dec. 22, 1947, in Rhinelander, the son of Theodore C. and Delores E. (Durkee) Jankowski.
He attended schools in Rhinelander and was a 1966 graduate of Rhinelander High School. He met his future wife Susan J. O'Melia in high school. The couple dated and on Nov. 16, 1968 they were united in marriage at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Jim attended college in Ironwood, Mich. where he studied accounting.
Jim acquired the nickname "Snuffy" which had remained with him throughout his life. He served a plumbing apprenticeship with Lakewood Mechanical and Taylors Plumbing & Heating. Snuffy became a Master Plumber. He later was employed with Stevens Plumbing & Heating. He then became a partner in American Mechanical for four years. He was employed with August Winters before traveling on the road to North Dakota where he was employed for two years as a pipe fitter for the coal industry. Snuffy moved back to Rhinelander where he started his own business called American Mechanical which he ran from 1984 until 2015.
He was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church and a former member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fishers Resort Pool League. He was a member of the Lake Julia Association, and the NRA.
Snuffy enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, spending time at the cabin on Dick and Don Lake. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children and most of all his grandchildren.
He will be dearly missed by his children: James (Jodi Fourt) Jankowski of Lake in the Hills, Ill., Ted Jankowski of Rhinelander and Anna (Terry) Schmidt of Gleason; grandpa to Emeri and Eden Jankowski, Autumn (Matt) Quade, Adalia and Aliana Jankowski. Also surviving is a brother, Dan Jankowski of Escondido, Calif., a sister, Sandy (Jud) Winkler of St. Joseph, Mich. and a brother, Steve Smith Sr. of Rhinelander. Jim is further survived by nieces, nephews, sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, goddaughters Beth Westfahl and Melanie Peterson, as well as many other beloved relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Susan Jankowski and by one brother, Hubert Smith Jr.
The visitation for Jim will be held on Friday, July 12, 2019 at the Hildebrand Funeral Home from 10:30 a.m. until the 12:30 p.m. funeral service. Dn. Michael Harvey will be officiating. Immediately following the funeral service there will be a procession to Nativity Catholic Cemetery for the Committal Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Jim may be given to the family. Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501, 715-365-4343. You are invited to light a candle, sign the guestbook, leave a photo or an online condolence at www.hildebrand russfh.com.
Comments:
You must login to comment.