James Robert Kendall, 66, died May 14, 2014, at his home in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was born in Chicago to the late Elaine Napoleon and Wilmer Kendall and moved to Browns Lake when he was 2 years old. He attended Burlington schools and upon graduating enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his tour in Vietnam, he was injured in combat and received a Purple Heart.
He married Marcia Knappmiller Manuell on July 14, 1990, in an outdoor ceremony in Wehmhoff-Jucker Park. Jim general contracted the home they built, in which they would live for the next 23 years. With marriage Jim became father to three daughters, Nancy, Becky and Lindy and grandfather to Joshua. In the following years, seven more grandchildren were added, Cassie, Cody, Christopher, Remi, Raegan, Ryah and Peter Jon (PJ), along with two great-granddaughters, Adiana and Isabella.
He loved spending time with the kids giving them rides on the Harley, fixing things with them, reading to them and playing games.
Jim was inventive and designed and invented Shield-Trim, patenting the product and forming their business JM-Krome, Inc., which still offers the products online.
He enjoyed bow and gun hunting, volunteered for Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce and ChocolateFest, was a member of Burlington Sno-Snoopers, SE WI Racine HOG, Corvette Club of the Palm Beaches, Burlington Classical Cruisers and DAV. He was a member of Burlington United Methodist Church and St. Peters United Methodist Church in Florida.
Survivors include his wife of West Palm Beach; daughters, Nancy (Robert) Conley and Lindy (Joseph) Conley, Wellington, Fla., Becky (Clint Breed) Albert, Eau Claire; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Pat Kendall and Carol (Kevin) Brierly of Burlington; and brother Richard.
Memorials will be donated to Forgotten Soldiers Outreach in Lake Worth, Fla., Yell and Tell, and Burlington United Methodist Church. Memory stones will be placed at Burlington Veterans Terrace and Highground Memorial Park in Neillsville.
Services were held on May 27 at St. Peters United Methodist Church in Wellington with military service and final resting place at South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fla. Palms West Funeral Home of Royal Palm Beach Fla., served the family.
Well-wishers can visit www.palmswestfuneralhome.com.
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