JAMES SCOTT WEEDEN

James Scott Weeden passed away peacefully at his Sheboygan home the morning of Wednesday, May 12, 2010, following a brief illness with pneumonia. He was the fifth of five children born to Eugene “Pat” and the late Mary Ann (Kistner) Weeden, arriving May 29, 1955.

As a child with Down syndrome, Jim was raised at home on Summit Road in Kohler at a time when community acceptance and parental support were just evolving. It truly did take a village to keep up with Jim during his childhood and adolescent years. Openhearted neighbors accommodated his strong will for independence, and a caring Kohler community welcomed him at village events.

Mary Ann and Pat relied on the emerging Sheboygan County Association for Retarded Citizens (now RCS Empowers) for special knowledge and parenting skills. In addition to the invaluable fellowship with other parents, the association offered Jim early development classes at its vibrant Opportunity Center, opened in 1958 in an old school house at 307 Lincoln Ave. in Sheboygan. During his childhood, Jim enjoyed swimming at the Kohler pool, camping with Dad and his three brothers, and sharing in their Cub and Boy Scout adventures. He also participated in a special Sunday school at Holy Name Parish, where he received his First Communion on April 28, 1968.

In 1968, the association converted the old Hayssen plant on Sheboygan’s St. Clair Avenue into the Rehabilitation Center. The variety of job experiences helped Jim through adolescence to improve communication skills, learn how to follow directions, and develop positive relationships with others outside his immediate family. And he liked getting a paycheck. Since swimming was still Jim’s preferred form of recreation, his mom and dad put together an aboveground pool in the backyard.

As a young adult, Jim moved to the Sheboygan County Comprehensive Health Care Center, his version of going away to college just like his four older siblings. His dad took an early retirement and reopened the “Comp” woodworking shop, where residents attentively cut, sanded (and sanded), glued and painted toy trucks, cars, planes, and the very popular Sheboygan County Holstein dairy cows. Jim preferred socializing during shop hours, but occasionally enjoyed an interesting “production line” assignment. Weekly trips with Mom and Dad usually included a hamburger stop at the Plymouth Dairy Queen, where Jim made sure Hank was working.

Over the next two decades Jim thrived in this very open, multifaceted environment of daily opportunities. He was a regular at the nightly social events sponsored by Sheboygan service groups, congregations, and community volunteers. His favorite pastime was interacting with (or supervising) the Center cooks during meal preparation, usually with a can of orange soda in his hand. He enjoyed shopping at the weekly Comp “street” of stores and attending chapel. His annual vacation planning would commence the day after he and Dad returned from their favorite Wisconsin Dells resort with a heated, indoor swimming pool.

In 2002, Sheboygan County closed the Comp. Jim and a few of his friends moved to the smaller Woodland Village, a wing added onto Rocky Knoll Health Care Center. Four years later he was the last resident to leave this new facility when it closed Oct. 31, 2006. Jim had developed numerous health and emotional problems over the past few years. To make relocation possible, Sheboygan County Health and Human Services staff called upon Dungarvin – a nationally recognized company dedicated to formulating communitybased support systems for people who are developmentally and physically challenged.

Soon Jim was happier and healthier than he had been in years, sharing a home on West Prospect Avenue in Plymouth with his long-time friend Maria and their extended family of Ann and her caring Dungarvin support providers. After his mother passed away in March 2002, Jim renamed most of the staff as “mom.” Several months ago when mobility became a problem, Jim relocated to 28th Street in Sheboygan. He shared a more accessible home with loving Julianne, who often “directed” Brenna and her amazing Dungarvin team in addressing his daily needs. Jim’s siblings were overwhelmed by the devotion of each support provider to keep Jim in his comfortable and happy home during the final 12 days under Aurora VNA Hospice.

In addition to his father, Jim is survived by his sister, Jan Blooming (John Ronayne) of Greenfield; three brothers, Jerome (Ruth) of Valparaiso, Jon (Ann) of Plymouth, and Joel (Ron Holehouse) of Sacramento; six nieces and nephews; and four grand nieces and nephews; uncle, Alan Weeden of West Bend; and three aunts, Ruth Kistner and Jean Kistner of Sheboygan, and Joan Weeden of Kohler. They all extend their appreciation to Jim’s amazing network of support within Dungarvin, Community Care, Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services, and the former residential centers.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, at Zimmer’s Westview Funeral and Cremation Care Center, W2132 Garton Road, Sheboygan, WI 53083 (State 42 and County JJ). Prayers will be offered by Fr. Sam, the Rev. Samuel Nsengiyumva, rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Sheboygan Falls. A reception for Jim’s extended family and friends will follow at noon. Please advise Jon of your plans to participate by contacting him at jweeden@excel.net.

Please visit zimmerfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.