James R.
Musbach
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Visitation- Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 10-12pm
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Hales Corners Lutheran Church (12300 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners)
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Funeral Service- Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 12pm
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Hales Corners Lutheran Church (12300 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners)
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James Ronald Musbach
June 18, 1936 – December 10, 2021
James Musbach, age 85, resident of New Berlin, Wisconsin for 60 years, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021.
Jim was born on June 18, 1936, in Cedarburg, Wisconsin to Edwin and Agnes (nee Lohmann). He grew up in Cedarburg and Grafton, Wisconsin which was next to the Musbach family dairy farm. He grew up with one sister – Judy (Ron) LaPean. He met Alberta (nee Kroupa) in 1959 and they married on October 1, 1960. Their first son James Ronald Musbach, Jr. was born in 1963 and their second son – Christopher Michael Musbach in 1965.
Jim was self-employed from 1965 until his semi -retirement in 1997. His company Milwaukee Organ Service repaired electronic organs in homes and churches. In 1995 he started working with Butler Stevens Organs, which sold Galante Italian designed electronic pipe organs. He installed these in churches all over Wisconsin and other states including one near Fort Worth, Texas. He also integrated electronics into pipe organs in some churches. It was one of his favorite work experiences. He finally completely retired in 2012.
Jim enjoyed working in his back yard prairie. He was an avid gardener, has been a composter since the 1960’s, and raised his own red worms. He also maintained the red worms bin at Retzer Nature Center where hundreds of school children dug enthusiastically looking for worms. He was a repairer of anything and everything, Mr FIX IT- just ask his grandchildren.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Alberta, two sons James Jr. ( special friend Charlene) and Christopher (Kim), four grandchildren; Stacey Musbach (special friend Pierre), Katlynd Musbach (partner- Nastassia), Nick (Rosie) Musbach, Jenna (Chameron) Hatzinger and seven great-grandchildren; Angelina Cahala, Madilynn Hatzinger, Hunter Hatzinger, Leland Hatzinger, Noah Hatzinger and Kai Musbach, and baby girl of Stacey and Pierre due in February. He is further survived by many other loved ones, relatives and dear friends. He is preceeded in death by his parents Edwin and Agnes Musbach and brother-in-law -Gerald Clasen.
A private burial at Highland Memorial Cemetery will follow after cremation.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in James’ memory to-
Hales Corners Lutheran School
Smile Train (Donate Here)
Samaritan’s Purse (Donate Here)
Mercy Ships (Donate Here)
Doctors Without Borders (Donate Here)
I love you, grandpa, in all your 85 years it still feels you were taken from us too soon… there are so many things I miss. you won’t play your “violin” at me when I’m being dramatic anymore, won’t mess with your trains and million projects in your workshop anymore. won’t check your meter every morning, won’t collect rainwater to see how much rain we got any more, there are all these little things and memories you left that I cherish. I miss you more than I can express. I wanted you to see me graduate and get married. you won’t be here to check on me or sit and talk with me in the middle of the night anymore as we sat in the kitchen, and all the time’s grandma would wake p and join us. I remember when you walked me in on my first day of kindergarten and all the times you’d pick me up and sit me in the kitchen when I wouldn’t want to get out of bed. all the times I sat in your lap and ruffled your hair after you’d just fixed it, and the warmest smile you’d give me every time I did it. even though the arguments we got into were stupid and petty I knew you always loved and cared about me. it starting to feel real that you’re gone and I hate it. your workshop is the same. your boots I used to borrow are still there. your projects are still there. the journal you religiously kept, your keys, your pocket knife, your wallet, your phone, they were all still there. you were everywhere and yet you weren’t. it breaks me every time I think of it. you were such a pure light in this world, grandpa, and I’m beside myself missing you. I love you so so so much. I can’t believe you’re gone. I wish it were a nightmare. I wish I could wake up and call the house and you answer. I wish grandma would tell me you were taking a naps id have to wait to talk to you. I wish you and I could ride to go get dinner again, whether it be cousins or picknsave fried chicken and wedges or even when id begs to get Mcdonalds, grandpa would almost always give in and take me. I don’t know how to finish this, I think all of us are struggling to cope with this. we all knew you and grandma are getting older, but we couldn’t bear to think about it- to lose either of you has always been such a painful, unthinkable notion that when it came we were all heartbroken. I know I’m heartbroken.