Jim Janssen
Jim knew a little more about the Knights of Columbus than most men when he joined.  For many, the images of swords and plumes at some official function are what some to mind.  But, Jim's uncle Andy, who happens to be the oldest living alumnus of St. Norbert College at age 98, was a Fourth Degree Knight and served as Grand Knight of a local Council.   He encouraged Jim to join several times and when he felt he could devote the time necessary to Council activities, Jim asked about the Knights at church and was put in touch with Randy Barrett.

 

Always one who liked to get involved in things, Jim got involved in the life of the Council pretty quickly.  He worked at the Festival Food stand and the pancake/porky breakfast and sold 33 tickets for the State Charity Raffle, ending up the seventh highest seller of the Council.  All in all he was quite involved for the first six months until his health took a turn.  Jim underwent quadruple bypass surgery on August 24 and is still in the lengthy process of recovery.  Not even aware of any heart problem, Jim was planning to have back surgery for pinched nerves that made walking difficult.  As a part of the pre-surgical evaluations as well as an MRI and a cauterization it was discovered that the heart was a more serious problem than the back.  Once his heart is healed he will still need to deal with the back problems and at this point is thinking of further surgery around January.

 

Jim worked for over thirty years for American State Equipment Company in Milwaukee where he dealt in heavy construction equipment.  A part of his job was to try and sell equipment by 'wining and dining' prospective clients.  Cranes could sell for over a million dollars and it may take as long as six months to close a deal.  In time he found he had diabetes and that the stress and the lifestyle was having an adverse effect on his health.  So, he left the company and he most currently worked as an independent rep for Mid-states Blade & Chain Inc. where he sells snowplow blades to the city and the county.  He enjoyed being his own boss but he has been off work for some time now because of the recent health problems and is thinking that at this point he may not be returning.

 

Always something of a joiner, Jim has been involved with the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce prior to becoming a part of the Knights.  He and his wife, Fay, have been married for six years now and they each brought four children to the marriage who live anywhere from North Carolina to California, though several are in the area.  Fay worked for Head Start, a child learning program, and Jim credits her with keeping him on the 'straight and narrow.'  We are thankful for the blessing that they have been to the Council and we offer our prayers and best wishes to Jim as he walks the road back to health.

 October 2000