James Oscar Tadych

Our Heavenly Father called to Heaven one of His best, Dad and Grampa. James (Jim) Oscar Tadych, 88, was called on April 3, 2016, from St. Elizabeth Hospital, due to an illness. His daughter, Debbie, was at his side. He was born in Oshkosh to S. George and Gertrude (Gansen) Tadych. Jim married the love of his life, Jean Klemmer, on August 20, 1949. They were married for 59 years before Jeans passing in 2008, and are now happily reunited forever. Jim proudly served in the Navy during WWII. In July of 2011, he was honored on the Old Glory Honor Flight to Washington, DC, as part of a special tribute during EAA, and a highlight of his life. In 1957, Jim joined the Oshkosh Police Department, and retired 33 years later. During this time, he rode a motorcycle for 18 years. He was also Officer Friendly for seven years in the Oshkosh schools, which he loved. He was on OPDs pistol, basketball, softball, and golf teams; and volunteered there after retirement. He continued to support many OPD programs, including the K-9 program, Gifts from the Heart, Honor Guard, Shop with a Cop, and Step Up. Jim was a volunteer for the Town of Algoma Fire Department for 14 years, and served a term as their Fire Chief. Over the years, Jim kept busy with many jobs, such as driving school bus, installing furnaces, teaching Jiu Jitsu, and numerous handyman positions. In his spare time, he built the three houses they lived in, and took college courses at UWO. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed casino jaunts, and loved to go around the country to bingo bashes. He particularly loved going with his grandsons, Kyle and Ryan, to Hayward for musky fishing, and to Cape Canaveral to watch the ships and lightning shows over the ocean, plus shark fishing. Jim played on various softball and basketball teams, and also refereed. He was a member of the Oshkosh Ambassadors Senior Softball tournament team. For many years, he played volleyball at the Rec Gym with all those old guys. His cap collection hobby contains about 750 caps. The entire family loved horses, and owned many, often going to horse shows. Summer vacations in Tomahawk were the best. Jim was always a cowboy at heart, and raised many steers, and even went to a working cattle ranch in Utah with Kyle, riding and roping cattle, another highlight. Jim and Jean belonged to the Oshkosh Outboard Club, Oshkosh Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club, Mill City Cloggers, and Timber Toppers Square Dancers. They enjoyed traveling and cruising, and visited almost all of the United States. They seldom missed their grandchildrens athletic and school events and programs. In more recent years, Jim travelled all over for Ryans, basketball games. Always selfless with a friendly and cheerful demeanor, Jim loved making people laugh. His glass was always nearly full, with a spirit unmatched. He could brighten anyones day with his special smile, and twinkling eyes. He went out of his way to talk with someone looking a little sad, so he could say something goofy to make them laugh. Jim is loved and sadly missed by his daughter, Debbie Sorensen, her husband Kent, and their sons Kyle, his wife Traci, and Ryan, all from Oshkosh. Jim has always been an important part of their lives, and their hearts are unbelievably broken. Family vacations, holidays, and Packer game days, will never be the same, nor will any day. Debbie was her fathers caregiver and companion for many years. His deer will miss him, too. Jim is also survived by his daughters Diane (Greg) VanOudenhoven, and Linda (Lee) Ziebell; grandchildren Lana Siebers, Aaron (Carrie) Siebers, Sara (Jason) Alberts, Lori (George III) Breiwa, and Lance (Alicia) Ziebell; seven great-grandchildren; several nephews, including Deacon Bob Penzenstadler and his wife, Monica, who were always very special to their Uncle Jim; and many special friends, including Gin and Roxanne. Jim is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean; four sisters, Beatrice (John) Steckbauer, Ruth (Phillip) Gagnon, Germaine (Walter) Manley, and Margaret; and two brothers, Edward (Millie) and Robert (Joyce). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Raphaels Catholic Church (830 S. Westhaven Dr., Oshkosh, WI), on Friday, April 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Doug LeCaptain officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 7, 2016, at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Homes-Westside from 4-7 p.m., and at the church on Friday from 10-11 a.m. The OPD Honor Guard will be participating. Entombment will take place with Military Honors at Lake View Memorial Park, following a luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society. The family would like to thank Dr. Sumit Ringwala and his staff (especially Roxanne and Kim); Eden Meadows Re-hab Suites for several stays; VNA angels Netty, Christy, Robin, and Monena; and Dr. Christopher Rocke. We cant imagine life without you. Weve never say good-bye, and I wont start now. So too-da-loo, my dear, sweet father...til we meet again. We love you very mucho, your pal-z Debbie

Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
4 p.m.- 7 p.m.



St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church



830 S Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.



St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church



830 S Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
11 a.m.



Lake View Memorial Park



2786 Algoma Bvld.
Oshkosh
WI
54901