James Robert Vieth — 1954 - 2025

James Robert Vieth, 71, of Eau Claire, WI, passed away on July 18, 2025 at Care Partners Country Terrace on Stonewood Dr. in Eau Claire, WI, surrounded by his wife, Susan, daughter, Measha, and daughter's partner, Kyle, after a long journey with Parkinson's Disease. James' life was filled with passion for many things, including music, sports, news, cooking, and community/local radio - but if you asked him what his greatest achievement was, it would be raising his twin daughters, Measha and Amanda, with his loving wife of 44 years, Susan.

He was born in Reedsburg, WI, on January 24, 1954 to June (Karow) and Leland Vieth. James was the second youngest of five children - David, Vicki, Barbara, James, and Cristie. He called many places home as he grew up in various cities throughout the US including South Boston, Virginia and Michigan, and Wisconsin including Reedsburg, La Valle, Elroy, Baraboo, Mauston, Wisconsin Dells, and Madison.

He often shared memories of his childhood on the farm near Mauston. He went on adventures with his Beagle mix pup, Snoopy, and played outside all day with his siblings. They'd climb the bluffs, swing on the tire swing, care for the chickens, pigs and goats, make forts in the granary and tunnels in the hay barn. With a mischievous grin, he recalled how he and his sister, Barbarba, flung rotten apples at passing cars. One went through an open window and hit the driver who quickly reversed but wasn't fast enough to catch the young outlaws running across the farm fields.As he grew older, James and his siblings worked at the county fair every summer during their time in Mauston. When they became young adults each of his siblings held jobs throughout Wisconsin Dells, James worked as a cook where he was proud of the sandwich and beverage recipes he created. Cooking became a huge part of his life and something he loved to share with friends, family and neighbors. James enjoyed spending his well earned dollars on pinball at a local arcade, running the table in games of pool, and skunking his family and friends in cribbage (in fact, his very last game, he skunked his daughter, Measha).

James graduated from Malcolm Shabazz City High School in Madison, WI, where he enjoyed participating in sports, especially basketball. His dream from a very young age was to become a sportscaster. You'd often find him writing down statistics from games, which proved time and again to be accurate. He continued to be a huge sports fan his entire life - his favorite teams being the Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers. James always had the TV and radio going simultaneously when a game was on and, once, in his later years, he brought a radio to a family photoshoot so he could listen to the Packer game.

After high school, James' lifelong passion for learning continued. He expressed to his siblings that he loved college and wanted to go and learn everything and then retire. He started his college career by attending Madison Area Technical College. During his time there he grew to love photography, developing photos and various art classes. While living in Madison, a mutual friend introduced him to the love of his life, Susan, in October 1979, at The Plaza Bar and Grill, and the two hit it off. Soon after, James and Susan started dating. They moved to Eau Claire, WI - He then attended the University of Eau Claire for Journalism and completed his college journey at Chippewa Valley Technical College with a Media Assistant Degree.

In the early years of their relationship, they enjoyed visiting Altoona beach and laying on the sand, attending local concerts, playing billiards, and exploring their new city together. Susan and her family were never sports people, but after meeting James, the two often enjoyed cheering on his favorite teams together. Everything they did together was full of excitement and joy - they were never bored in each other's company. James and Susan married on December 29, 1980 at the Eau Claire County Courthouse with two witnesses, Bob and Rebecca Makovic. Throughout their 44 years of marriage, James and Susan enjoyed gardening, thrifting, collecting artwork, cooking, attending Tuesday Night Blues at Owen Park, and spending time with their daughter, Measha.

James and Susan bought their family home in 1985 where they looked forward to starting their own family. In November of 1991, Susan gave birth to what James referred to as "shoebox babies": two twin daughters. Amanda and Measha were born three months premature at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. James was a natural caregiver and enjoyed being a stay at home dad while Susan worked as a caregiver and companion for the elderly. He knew when the babies (or "boo bahs" as he loved to call them) were hungry or needed to be changed before they even shed a tear. Early on, Amanda was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, which brought challenges to her childhood. Through these challenges, she found solace in music, reading, singing, and she excelled in school, especially math and science (she was the academic of the two and Measha was the artist). With her diagnosis she had to undergo surgeries - and after a second surgery, on August 21, 2003, she passed away at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. James struggled to accept this terrible loss, and his love for Amanda continued on until his final breath.

James kept to himself after her passing, and their daughter, Measha, would bring friends over during the day. James would enjoy cooking food to share with them as he reminisced about his adventures during his younger days and when he first learned to cook. The friendships she made became a part of the family. In first grade Measha met her oldest friend Yer Yang, who lived a few houses down from the Vieths. James thought of her as a third daughter, as the two were inseparable.

When Measha graduated from high school her relationship with James grew closer - like best friends. James enjoyed sharing stories of his childhood with her and discussing the latest news from the newspaper as well as classic and new up-and-coming musicians - surpassing young Measha's knowledge of current music trends. Her high school friends always joked that James "knows everything." He always had an answer for whatever question they inquired about.

In 2012, James was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The diagnosis took a while to confirm but seemed likely, as his mother, June and her mother, also suffered from this

disease. The progression was slow at first, but changes in his physical and mental health became more noticeable by 2016/2017. The most dramatic changes happened after the Covid-19 pandemic. James became dependent on a walker and a wheelchair to get around and ended up moving into assisted living in 2022. This was very hard for him as he always jokingly stated, "Toss me in Dells Pond before I go to a nursing home." But, after several physical therapy rehab stays and residences in various assisted living places he eventually found himself back in Eau Claire, where he, his wife, and daughter continued to make memories in his final years: outings to local restaurants, apple picking at McIlquham Orchard, Brewers baseball games, local concerts, movies, fall festivals, and walks at parks to name a few. Susan and James often watched the clouds together and discussed what animals they could see. They went on a very special "to do before I die trip" with Measha to see Valley Church in Norwalk, WI in October 2024. This church was founded by Vieth family ancestors from Germany. Much of the Vieth family history could be found in the valley nearby, lovingly nicknamed "Vieth Valley," as well as the small cemetery, Wanderers Rest, where many ancestors have been laid to rest. James loved learning about his family history and boasted about this trip for his remaining months of life.

Despite the diagnosis, and limitations of the disease, James continued to enjoy his hobbies. Over the years you could find him outside gardening, watering flowers, chives, tomato plants, pepper plants, and three raspberry varieties (Susan and James planted a Fall Gold raspberry bush beside their home soon after moving in, and there are many fond memories of picking raspberries as a family, so much so Measha tattooed one on her forearm which James proudly pointed out to folks when she visited him at his care facility). And when he transitioned to assisted living he brought his green thumb there by caring for tomato plants on his new home's patio.

His wife will never forget, early in their home ownership journey, she found an ad in the paper for a water lily plant, after speaking with a lady over the phone the two headed to her home to purchase it. The owner showed them fish ponds she made out of kids'

swimming pools. Soon after James made Susan's dream come true and dug out a hole for a kiddie pool to sit in then Susan planted the water lily plant in a dish pan - the two made these simple items into a beautiful pond. They soon became goldfish owners after visiting their local hardware store and for many years transferred these pet fish into the pond during the summer months for all to enjoy. Over the years you could also find James in a chair on their front porch, radio cranked up to music or a sports game. He'd become obsessed with PBS and Simple Radio (a phone app) in his later years, where he discovered hundreds of new radio stations, new artists and continued to learn each day. He believed in the good that people could do and often cried for humanity. He had a huge heart.

James will always be remembered for his love of knowledge, sports, music, cooking, gardening, art, and humor, especially the way that he could crack a joke even in the toughest moments. He probably would like the world to know he invented the saying "Thank you, you're welcome," which must be said all as one line, or "Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda," or his silly "Booger" song that made the care facility staff crack up. Mostly, he'll be remembered as a loving husband to his wife, Susan, and tender caregiver to his daughter, Measha, who he proudly bragged about to staff and friends and nicknamed "Measha Mosher/The Mosher" (due to her sass as a baby). We couldn't have asked for a brighter personality, more loving and humorous husband and father, and we will miss James every day.

James was preceded in death by his daughter Amanda Vieth, his mother June Vieth (Karow) and his father Leland Vieth, and he is survived by his wife Susan Vieth (Fiedler), his daughter Measha Vieth (and partner Kyle Arnette), his sisters Barbara Smith, Vicki Schmidt, Cristie St. James, and his brother David Vieth, and extended family.

A private Celebration of Life will take place at a family home.