James Wildish

James Albert Wildish, 89, of Eugene died January 24, 2021. Jim was born in Rocklake, ND on November 13, 1931, the tenth of twelve children to parents Thomas C. Wildish and Verna Latham Wildish. In 1934, Jim’s brother Norm, 18 at the time, drove Jim, his mother Verna and seven of his siblings from their home in North Dakota to Oregon. Arriving in Oregon, they were reunited with Verna’s parents and the Latham family. Jim’s father, T.C. found work in Oregon hauling sand & gravel. By the mid-1940’s, with many sacrifices along the way, T.C. had acquired a fleet of dump trucks and established a trucking company. By 1947, the company built a gravel crushing plant and started expanding during the busy post-war days. Learning the family business from the ground up, in 1950, at the age of 18, Jim started running a loader in the company’s sand & gravel yard located in Glenwood. Over the years as the company grew, expanding into asphalt and concrete materials and then road, building and bridge construction, Jim’s responsibilities grew, becoming President/CEO of Wildish Land Co. and related companies in 1991. During his formative years, Jim worked in almost every phase of the company operations. Remembered as one of the best grade checkers the company ever had, Jim taught his boys, Mike and Steve to grade check. With some skills to apply, starting in high school, his boys began working for the family company. A recognized industry and business leader, Jim received many awards for his service, including Eugene’s First Citizen in 2004, the Springfield’s Distinguished Citizen in 2009, as well as the Exemplary Ethical Leader Award from Bushnell University in 2013 to name just a few. Jim took great pride when the company received OSU’s 1996 Austin Family Business of the Year Award. T.C. taught the Wildish kids that it wasn’t enough to just work hard, make a living and support your family. He believed that it was also important to support your community. Jim took this lesson to heart, embarking on a lifetime of community service. His service to the Oregon Trail Council BSA, spans 58 years, beginning in 1963 as a Cub Master. Jim believed in Scouting values, commitment to service and the character building the programs provided. Jim was awarded Boy Scout’s Silver Beaver Award in 1987. Jim was a loyal Rotarian, serving for 45 years until his death. Jim gave countless hours of time to many Delta Rotary projects. Among his favorites were the Owen Rose Garden and the annual Boy Scout canned food drive. In 1999, Jim was recognized as Delta Rotary’s, Rotarian of the Year. Jim served on numerous boards over the years, including Jaycees, Junior Achievement of Lane County, Goodwill Industries of Lane County and United Way of Lane County among many. Through KIDSPORTS, and EBAA before it, Jim contributed to ensure that youth had a wide array of activities to keep them active and healthy. He was a coach and volunteer and the company was a long-time supporter, sponsoring the flag football season for decades, as well as underwriting teams. Jim, his wife Yvonne and the company were often recognized for their support of local arts organizations. Closest to his heart, Jim and his family helped launch the building of the Richard E. Wildish Community Theatre in Springfield dedicated to his brother. On November 29, 1952, Jim married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Yvonne Marie Youngquist. Jim was a year ahead of Yvonne “Vonnie” at Eugene High in Eugene. Jim met Vonnie at a slumber party, which always made for a good story. Vonnie was a classmate to Jim’s twin sister’s Jean and Janet, who were having a sleepover. The girls were short one person to play cards. Jim agreed to fill in. This started a relationship that grew into a loving marriage of 68 years. Jim and Vonnie loved to dance. They’d take dance lessons at the Elks Lodge just to get out and dance, often being mistaken for the dance instructors. They were extremely devoted to each other. They enjoyed getting out in the community, interacting with people and making a difference. Vonnie was at Jim’s side, supporting him, in everything that he did. Coming from a large family, with 30 nieces and nephews, Jim grew up surrounded by family. He loved spending time with his boys, Mike and Steve. He especially loved being a grandpa to Mike’s daughter Noelle and Steve’s twins, Jonathan and Geoffrey. He was thrilled to be a great-grandpa to Noelle’s daughter Elliot and her son Reier. Jim’s love of family carried over to his Wildish company family. He treated employees like family and his influence helped many to stretch and become more than they thought possible. Jim was too busy to have any hobbies, except for one, the Oregon Ducks. Jim attended the University of Oregon and was a lifelong, devoted Duck fan. In 2011, Jim received the Len Casanova Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Club of Eugene/Springfield. Jim was a season-ticket holder for Oregon track & field, men’s and women’s basketball, football, softball and baseball. He loved it all. He shared his passion for Oregon sports with his family. Jim and his boys, Mike and Steve, would reminisce about the freezing Independence Bowl of 1989. For a period of years, Jim and Yvonne traveled to all the football bowl games, including the two national championship games. Jim was a man of faith. He was a “church man,” as his Pastor Laurie Jones so eloquently said during Jim’s private family commitment service held on January 30th. Jim and Vonnie were married at Central Lutheran Church on November 29, 1952. Jim joined Central when he married Vonnie and was an active member until his death. In so many ways, Jim served his church as the faithful servant that he was. Jim struggled with Parkinson’s for over twenty years and finally succumbed to the disease. Jim and his family owe a great debt of gratitude to Jim’s Neurologist, Dr. Richard Randle, whose loving care kept Jim going far beyond all expectations. Jim is preceded in death by his father, Thomas C. Wildish and mother, Verna Latham Wildish, his brothers Leonard, Elmer (“Tom”), Norman, Ellis and Richard Wildish and his sisters Alberta Steadman, Rebecca Dickinson and Janet Wise. Jim is survived by his sisters Edith Pattee, Mary Helen Mickel, Jean Jensvold, his wife, Yvonne Wildish, son Mike and wife Sonia, son Steve and wife Kim, granddaughter Noelle Tennyson and husband Chad, grandsons Jonathan and Geoffrey Wildish, great-granddaughter Elliot Tennyson and great-grandson Reier Tennyson. Memorials may be made to Central Lutheran Church of Eugene, Oregon Trail Council BSA, Delta Rotary or a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be scheduled late summer or fall, 2021.