James
Lawrence Imse
(July 20, 1948 - February 16, 2014)
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(July 20, 1948 - February 16, 2014)
Send Flowers Send Sympathy Card
View/Sign Guest Book | Create Memorial Website
Send Private Condolences
James L. Imse, age 65, of Spider Lake, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 16, 2014, in his home. Pastor Imse was born in Cheverly, Maryland, on July 20, 1948, and grew up in western New York. His family moved to New England while he was in high school. He graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and attended seminaries in Leuven, Belgium, and Baltimore, Maryland, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. He was ordained as a Catholic Priest on March 27, 1975 in Worcester. He then earned his Master’s Degree in Religious Studies in 1986 and served in that diocese until 1993, when he moved to the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, serving four more years. In 1997 he left the priesthood and moved to Spider Lake. In April of 1998 he was licensed by the United Church of Christ (UCC), and called as pastor and teacher of the Congregational U.C.C. in Mellen, Wisconsin, where he served until his death. In 2000 he received full ministerial standing in the Northwest Association of the U.C.C.
Pastor Imse was very instrumental in continuing the annual Veterans Day Service, Lenton Breakfast Services and Christmas Concerts at the Mellen U.C.C. He was an active member of the Spider Lake Fire Dept as an EMT, the Chequamegon Lions Club, the Mellen Thrift Store (Wholly Threads), Memorial day Cemetery Services, the Highbridge Aged Iron Club, the Friends of Copper Falls State Park and an avid outdoorsman and gardener. He was also heavily involved in in several theatrical productions in northern Wisconsin and was named the ;Person of the Year' by the Mellen Chamber of Commerce in 2007.
In addition to his mother, Fern A. (Symons) Imse of Westborough, Massachusetts, Pastor Jim is survived by four brothers: Peter F. Imse of Bow, New Hapshire; John P. Imse of Golden, Colorado; Andrew E. Imse of Simsbury, Connecticut and Mark W. Imse of Auborn, Massachusetts; one aunt, Janet Tiernan of Lakeland, Florida; 12 nephews and nieces.
Pastor Imse was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Thomas P. Imse and his brother, Thomas Paul Imse.
A Memorial Service celebrating Pastor Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2014. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Congregational United Church of Christ, in Mellen, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Memorial Service will begin at 10:30. Lay Pastor Deanne Allen, Lynn Larson and Pastor Marina LaChecki will officiate. A fellowship luncheon will follow the Memorial Service.
Interment will be private.
Memorials are preferred to your local food pantry.
Our Mellen Chapel is assisting his family with the details of his memorialization.
