James McDonald

James (Jim) Joseph McDonald, age 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Lafayette Manor in Darlington. He was born on June 5, 1933, at the family farmhouse, which has been in the McDonald family since 1863.  His parents were Joseph and Helen (Short) McDonald, who predeceased him.  He was the eldest of seven children.

Jim attended Red Rock Elementary School and graduated from Gratiot High School in 1951.  As a young man growing up on a farm near Gratiot, Wisconsin, Jim was the definition of hard work. He started his day with chores on the farm, then it was time to walk to school, and afterwards attend sports practice. Then he would walk the same path home and end his days just as he had started them, with chores on the farm. The closer he came to graduating, the more he became interested in the military. After graduation, he was briefly employed at an aircraft munitions plant in Savanna, Illinois, until he answered the call of duty for the U.S. Army in 1954.

Jim served in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Korea where his job was to ensure jet fuel was successfully transported from one station to another.  He was honorably discharged in 1956. Jim received the Quilt of Valor award on December 5, 2021, for his service.

Upon his return to Wisconsin in 1956, he was employed as an ironworker at Madison Cooper Foundry in Madison, Wisconsin.

On September 27, 1958, Jim married Janet Gille at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gratiot. The following year his dream of farming became a reality.  In 1971, Jim and Janet purchased the McDonald home farm where they farmed together until retiring after nearly sixty years.  Jim and Janet would have celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on September 27, 2025. 

Together, Jim and Janet raised four children and were blessed with eleven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren. 

Jim had a strong faith and was a lifelong parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gratiot and served many years as an usher.  He was a devoted father and took great pride in his family, the family farm, and always did his best to uphold the heritage of his ancestors.  He loved family gatherings and cherished the company of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He and Janet were great fans of their grandchildren and spent much time attending their athletic and school events. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Janet (Gille); his four children Sheila (Rick) Probert of Evansville, Indiana, Rick (Lori) McDonald of Gratiot, Wisconsin, Dave (Carmen) McDonald of Darlington, Wisconsin, and Marla (Doug Hesseltine Jr.) McDonald of Des Moines, Iowa; his eleven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren; four sisters: Irene (Billy) Graham, Jerry Cullen, Laureen (Tom) Donahoe, and Lorraine (Jerry) Bartels and one brother Johnny (Carmen) McDonald; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Joan Moore.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the in-home caregivers and the staff of Upland Hills Hospice and the Lafayette Manor for their devoted and compassionate care of Jim during the final months of his life. 

Memorial contributions may be made out to St. Joseph’s Parish in memory of Jim. Please send to St. Joseph’s Parish in care of Holy Rosary 206 E. Harriet St. Darlington, WI 53530. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 11:30 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gratiot with Fr. William Vernon officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Gratiot where military graveside rites will be accorded by Gratiot VFW Post #9692. A visitation will be held Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 9:30 A.M. until 11:15 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a rosary being prayed at 9:00 A.M. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.