 | Obituary
Little Chute - James "Jim" John Joseph Salm, 82, of Darboy and the Village of Harrison, peacefully passed away on December 2, 2021 at Care Partners on French Road in Appleton.
Jim was the third of thirteen children born to Roman and Marie Salm on their French Road farm in Grand Chute. After Jim graduated from St. John's High School (Little Chute) in 1957, he headed to boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and then served in the Army Reserves. Upon returning, Jim pursued an associate's degree in accounting at Fox Valley Technical College. He worked in sales for Konop Vending in Green Bay back in the day when salespeople received a new station wagon for work each year. He was also an instrumental part of the new UWGB campus food service program. In 1971, he and his brother Junior bought the Darboy Club. In time, Jim branched out to Darboy Fried Chicken restaurants in four locations, Salm's Family Restaurant, and High Cliff Supper Club.
Jim was passionate about local government and loved serving for decades as the president of the Darboy Sanitary District. In 2013 he was elected as the Village of Harrison's first president, a role he served in until 2017 when he stepped aside to serve one final term as a trustee (through 2019). Jim was proud of his role in government and shared this in 2013: "I've witnessed and played a role in the amazing transformation of our area from farm fields into a flourishing Fox Cities community. As president of the Darboy Sanitary District for the past 30 years, I have led a team that manages one of the fastest growing areas in all of northeastern Wisconsin. What began in the mid-1970s with 200 homes/3 businesses has grown to today's 4,300 homes/270 businesses." During part of this time he was also a board member for F&M Bank.
Jim loved gardening, the Green Bay Packers and sharing his knowledge with his kids or anyone who would listen. As someone with access to Packer season tickets, he carried a flask in a leather transistor radio case to each home game. A chuckle was his most common response to any story. As his work world wound down, he spent more time with his youngest kids, especially Cara, who he coached, practiced with and followed in her sporting endeavors. Softball became their shared passion.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Roman and Marie Salm (Hietpas); his son-in-law, Brian Revoir; his siblings, Harold "Ringo" Salm, Jan Vande Hey and Ray Salm; his siblings-in-law, Bill Jansen and Patti Salm; and his nephew Roman Peter Salm III.
He is survived by: his children and grandchildren, daughter Sherry (Pat) and their son Joe, daughter Stacy, son Steven (Susan) and their sons Sebastian and Dominic, son Nick (Ashley) and their children Aubrey, Noah and Jamison, daughter Cara and son Jon; his children's mothers, Sharon Salm, Kathy Wickersheim and Karen Salm; siblings, Doris Jansen, Roman Jr. Salm (Virgie), Marian VandeHey (Jack), Jerry "Soupy" Salm (Lois), Cathy Bauer (Dick), Bob Salm (Gail), Dick Salm (Peg), Deb Halverson (Steve) and Anne Higgins (Glenn); and his brother-in-law Ken VandeHey. He is also survived by his cats Tony and Trixie, cousins, nieces, nephews and their families.
The family extends thanks to Care Partners and Compassus Hospice for making these last months as comfortable as possible. Special thanks to Rhonda, the staff, and David, the big guy who connected with Jim and made each day a little better.
A memorial service for Jim will be held on Thursday, December 16, at 5:00 p.m. at ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE, 411 Vandenbroek Street, Little Chute, with Fr. Ron Belitz officiating. A time of visitation will be held on Thursday from 3:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. We know all the people who would like to attend Jim's funeral cannot be there, so the service will also be live streamed at www.stjn.org. For online condolences please visit www.verkuilenfh.com. |
1939 - 2021 (82 years)