It is with heavy hearts that the family of James "Jim" Edmund Garrity shares that he passed away peacefully in his sleep during the early morning of Tuesday July 5th. Jim was lovingly referred to as "Poppa" by his family and will forever leave a hole in their hearts. Jim was born on April 3rd, 1936, to John and Jane Garrity in Chicago, IL. He married his beloved wife, Carole on August 16th, 1958, and they lived a beautiful life together for 64 wonderful years - years filled with infinite amounts of love and laughter that filled both their home and their family's heart. Jim and Carole started their wedded journey by moving across the country to New London, Connecticut where they welcomed their first children, Michael Shane and Laura Lee. From Connecticut, they continued their travels across the country, due to Jim's enlistment in the United States Coast Guard, eventually landing in Weston, WI. During this time they welcomed two more children into their lives, Colleen Marie and Brian James. Throughout their lives they also welcomed 11 grandchildren, and 11 ¾ (baby on the way!) great grandchildren. One of the last conversations that Jim had was about how his family was his life's greatest accomplishment. His family feels equally the same. Jim and Carole lived in Weston, WI for 52 years where they created a loving home that was always the center of Saturday night cookouts or family holidays. When the family wasn't congregating at the Garrity home, you could find them in the North Woods, specifically at the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. Jim and Carole rented a cabin on the Flowage for many years, where the family created many beautiful memories. The family's favorite things to do at "The Cabin" included fishing, tubing, playing practical jokes (especially Jim), dancing to music, camping on nearby islands, playing "My Father Owns a Grocery Store" (a family game that Carole's aunt created), and telling stories by the campfire. Outside of being an avid outdoorsman, Jim was passionate about many other things, especially trains, connecting with local veterans, working on projects in his garage, and visiting a local gun range, Zingers and Flingers, with his family. Jim spent years creating a custom built, miniature, motorized train set in his basement that was the event of the night during Garrity family Christmases. Jim and Carole would load each cart of the train with an individualized Christmas present for every member of the family, and the family would then watch the train complete its journey across the lifelike landscape that Jim had created, while Christmas music played from the first cart. Jim fostered his love of trains through a 20-year involvement in the Wisconsin Valley Model Railroad Club. The Wisconsin Valley Model Railroad Club was not the only local community that Jim was a part of. He also met weekly with the Veterans Weekly Cup of Coffee Group on Wednesday mornings at Denny's. Being a Vietnam Era War veteran, Jim took great pleasure in getting to commune with an outstanding group of fellow veterans who quickly became dear friends. These meetings were the highlight of Jim's week, especially around the time when he was able to partake in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2019 with his son Brian. Serving his country was one of Jim's greatest honors. Jim continued his patriotism by building and selling wood photo frames that he made in his garage, and then donating the proceeds to the same Honor Flight Network that he himself was a participant of. Lastly, Jim and his family spent many Saturdays at the gun range where he passed down his love of being an avid marksman to his wife and children. Jim is survived by his loving wife Carole (Betzel) Garrity, his four children: Michael Garrity, Laura Tremel (Brian), Colleen Trempe (Frank), and Brian Garrity; his 11 grandchildren: Jason Trempe (Nikki), Brandon Garrity (Jami), Jenny Trempe, Stephanie Grabko (Nick), Justin Garrity (Mel), Eric Trempe (Abby), Danielle Kuhtz (Tyler), Alex Kluever (Kaitlyn), Kilee Crawford (Alex), Zach Kluever (Maddie), and Dylan Garrity; his 12 great-grandchildren: Jade Trempe, Rylee Hommerding, Blake Postler, Caidence Reece, Madyson Postler, Danny Dillon, Kadence Trempe, Channing Kuhtz, Avery Kuhtz, Paxton Grabko, Nora Garrity, and baby Garrity due in September; his niece Kellie Messman (Tom) and her children Lauren, Lily, and Brock. He is also survived by his siblings: Patricia Pasterz (Frank), Michael Garrity, Betsy La Rocco (Mike), and siblings in law: Jack Connolly, Tom Betzel (Bea), Harry Betzel, and Laura Gerber (Gary), and many other nieces and nephews. Jim is preceded in death by his parents John and Jane Garrity, parents-in-law Harry and Cecelia Betzel, sister Nancy Connolly, daughter in law Darcy Garrity, and sister-in-law Martha Betzel. Jim lived a long life, passing away at 86 years of age. Throughout his entire life, he never took a day or moment for granted and truly lived life to the fullest. His children and grandchildren learned about the magic of life by witnessing it through their Poppa's eyes. To commemorate such a life well lived, Jim's family is holding a celebration of life at noon on Saturday September 24th at Doepke Park in Rib Mountain (Wausau), WI. Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at MWCS.WS