James "Jim" Bernard Nuthals

James “Jim” B. Nuthals, age 84 of Wild Rose passed away suddenly at his home on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Jim was born in Green Bay to Raymond and Lucille (Kimps) Nuthals.  The second child of six children including Joan King (deceased), Tom, Bill, Bob, and Cindy Keyes. He attended Annunciation Catholic Church and school and it was there that he would meet his lifelong love, Mary Jaseph.  Jim was very active and loved to play sports; he played football, basketball and ran track for Green Bay West H.S.  Jim graduated in 1957, the same year that Lambeau Field was built, and he and three of his friends promptly bought season tickets, which his family maintains to this day. Jim’s love for football continued and he played while attending college at St. Norbert’s in DePere, playing safety, running back, and punting. Jim also served in the US Marine Corp while attending college, and upon completion he and Mary were married.  Jim and Mary were to celebrate their 60^th wedding anniversary on June 8^th.

Jim worked as a bank examiner for several years, and then became a teacher.  Moving to Chippewa Falls, Jim decided to pursue his love of sports by coaching football and basketball and teaching business at McDonell High School. He coached his basketball team to a state championship. Jim and Mary also had their first two children there: Daniel Nuthals and Sue (Nuthals) Iehl. Not long after, Jim took an opportunity to be athletic director at Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh. David Nuthals and Julie (Nuthals) Ashlock were born during this time.  Jim helped to coach the 1973 Lourdes Academy football team to a state championship win at Lambeau Field. He also brought his track teams to state championships during that same time period. 

In 1976 Jim and Mary moved their family of six to Madison to open their business, The Athlete’s Foot of Madison, Inc.  Starting with one store in West Towne Mall, they expanded their business to include ten stores with locations in Madison, Milwaukee, and Rockford, IL. Known affectionately as “the big toe,” Jim was a successful businessman for 25 years and won many awards.  Jim and Mary stayed active their whole lives, playing tennis and pickleball year-round, but especially at their condo in Marco Island, Florida.  Jim won a bronze medal playing doubles in an amateur U.S. Open Pickleball tournament in 2018. Jim’s children lovingly call him “Pops”.  He loved his family dearly; spending hours upon hours throwing wiffle balls and shootin’ hoops, playing cards, taking road trips and camping. The family bought and cleared land to build a lakeside cottage in central Wisconsin that remains a family treasure to this day.  Every weekend in the summer the family comes together, no matter how far or wide they have grown and spread out with their own children.  They continue to gather together to celebrate, to laugh and play and live out the good life that the Nuthals created.

Jim is survived by his wife: Mary; son: Dan and Karen (Trewartha) Nuthals, daughter: Sue (Nuthals) Iehl, son: David and Megan (Ryan) Nuthals, daughter: Julie (Nuthals) and Eric Ashlock; 10 grandchildren: Calvin, Hailey, Melanie, Dylan, Lauren, Ruben, Maya, Jack, Kate, and Will;  nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on June 12, 2023 at 11 am at Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Waupaca, WI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim's name to St. Matthew's House, Naples FL. www.stmatthewshouse.org/give-2