He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Strobel Landon; five children; 13 grandchildren.

He was preceded into eternity by one grandson.

Jim was born in Valentine, Neb. where he spent most of his childhood years working on area ranches. Not having a dad or a secure home life, his early years were difficult. He was homeless and hungry a great deal. When we, as children, wanted to buy unnecessary things he would always tell us of how he had to keep everything he owned in one tiny suitcase that a four-year-old child could carry. He spent many cold nights sleeping in hospital and hotel lobbies. He had his first Christmas tree after he was married. Due to the kindness of a rancher for whom he worked, arrangements were made for him to attend Curtis High School in Curtis, Neb., a boarding school at that time, and his first real home. He made lifelong friends there andattended nearly all of the class reunions. During WWII, he served in the army, seeing action in both Europe and the Pacific. After the war, he married and settled in Milwaukee where he and a partner founded a very successful electrical contracting business. In 1972, he retired to begin a career as a rancher in southern Arizona. The ranch house was an old adobe building, with a tree, filled with bullet holes, holding up the living room roof. Jim spent many happy hours riding the mountain range on his horse "Rex" or in his old jeep. Jim was a cowboy at heart and spoke lovingly of his beloved Nebraska "sand hills." Under each of the homes that he built he placed a little Nebraska soil. And when he is laid to rest, his son, Tom, will place a little Nebraska soil under him for his journey home. In 1981, he built a passive solar adobe home near Sierra Vista, Ariz., where he and Dorothy lived until debilitating osteoporosis forced him to move into town. He spent his final years living with his daughter, Teresa Landon Yates, in Mesa, Ariz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004 at 11 a.m. at St. Kilian’s Catholic Church, 264 W. State Street, Hartford. Family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Shimon Funeral Home, 824 Union Street (Hwy 83 N), Hartford.

Interment Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

In memory of dad’s childhood and the soft spot in his heart for homeless children, we ask that in lieu of flowers please send a donation to: The CAP Fund, Children's Hospital Foundation, Mail Station 3050, P.O. Box 1997, Milwaukee, Wis. 53201

My favorite memory of my dad is how he taught me to dance. He loved to dance. He and his "bride," as he called mom, danced in the living room of their home. Even during these last years, when his eyesight was gone and diabetes had destroyed her feet, you could still find them dancing in the living room on Saturday nights while listening to the Lawrence Welk show. It’s a beautiful memory for me. They will dance again soon. We love you dad, Jean Marie