James Srenaski

James Clement Srenaski, 75, passed away on November 30, 2023. 

Born: February 19, 1948 in Green Bay Wisconsin to loving parents Harry and Rita Srenaski in Green Bay, WI.

Youth: Jim spent his free time working side by side with his grandfather, Clement Vincent, during the inception and development of the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay after Clement’s retirement from as Milwaukee Road Engineer. During this time, Jim took on the responsibility of Fireman on both the 0-4-0 Brillion Pioneer and the 4-6-2 Soo Line Pacific steam locomotives pulling the museum train loaded with visitors. This is when he developed his love for trains and became an avid railroad follower, collector, and modeler of trains. He continued to grow this love and his collection his entire life. Jim also loved to bowl where he won the Green Bay City All Events title in 1979. Jim bowled with many members of his family over many years.

High School: Jim attended Premontre High School until area boundaries were changed with the completion of Lombardi Avenue in Green Bay, when he was transferred to Southwest High School. While in high school he sold beer in the crowd at the home Green Bay Packer games, He graduated from Southwest HS in 1966 but not before leaving his mark by painting " '66 " on a water tower on Military Avenue where it remained for decades.

After high school, Jim was drawn to Hawaii where he lived for 2 years managing an apartment complex before home sickness pulled him back to Wisconsin.

College: Jim attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point where he developed an interest in Chemistry which led him to the award winning discovery of protein isolation for consumables.  He met his first wife, Susan Staudt and refocused his passions on the culinary arts. He and Susan moved to southern Wisconsin where he became a chef at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. His desire to be closer to family led him to move his wife and small son, James, Jr., back to the Green Bay area where he became the manager of the Ponderosa Steak Houses in Green Bay for a number of years. With some life changes, he met his second wife, Mary Jo Sprangers, and lived in Green Bay. His restlessness drove him to pursue a different career path and he found a new passion. He became an over the road truck driver which he enjoyed for many years attaining the 2 million accident free miles distinction ..

During his travels across the country, his routes brought him to a terminal in Houston, TX which is where he decided to settle and met his third wife, Myrna Bray. He stayed in the Houston area and drove truck for many more years. With more life changes he proceeded to build a wonderful woodworking shop where he built cabinets and remodeled kitchens. With the road calling him yet again, he decided on a less strenuous form of driving and became a bus driver for Houston Metro and quickly rose to the top of the driver list with his experience of driving over the road for so many years. There he remained until his retirement.

Jim spent his time continuing and increasing his collection of model trains and found a good friend, Ken Fulton, in Wyoming which shared his passion for trains. They spoke by phone almost daily discussing trains, life, and everything else. Ken was a great friend to Jim.

Once again, his desire to be close to family and Green Bay called him back to Green Bay. Once he relocated, he spent much time with siblings and extended family members. He found another hobby that piqued his interest and started fishkeeping. He had several aquariums, hundreds of fish, and enjoyed watching his new additions grow and thrive.

Jim was a bit of a free spirit, opinionated and loud and brash sometimes. Underneath his "Grandpa Clem" appearance, he had a true love for family and a true caring side that wanted the best for everyone. This wonderful individual will truly be missed. To know him was to love him.

Jim is survived by his son James C. Srenaski Jr., grandson Jamison Srenaski, his sisters Gail Marie Addie and Arita (Peach) Ann Robinson, brother Patrick John Srenaski, his nephews Jon, Perry, and Todd Robinson, Wyndham and Ainsley Srenaski and Willis Ecton, nieces Chelsey (Cheebs) Addie, Lynsey Smith, and Elizabeth Ecton.

He is preceded in death by his parents Rita and Harry Srenaski.