Mr. James
GRAPEVINE—Jerome “Jerry” James, 75, of Grapevine passed away from complications of Parkinson’s Disease on Sept. 1, 2026. Jerry was born on Sept. 29, 1950 (his m o t h e r ’ s birthday), to Elaine and Calvin James in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Jerry was the eldest of three sons.
He grew up in Waukesha and the family later moved to Delafield, WI. Jerry had fond memories of growing up on Lake Nagawicka with the water as a playground. He always told the story about learning to drive a car on the frozen lake.
He graduated from Kettle Moraine High School in 1969 and, in December, he joined the U.S. Air Force. He had tours in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, working as a jet engine mechanic. Jerry returned stateside and served at Seymour Johnson in North Carolina and Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. After eight years in the Air Force, he went to work for Braniff Airlines and, after they went under (twice), he worked for Dalfort Aviation.
Fast forward to May 1995. Jerry went to the Main Street Days Festival in Grapevine and met Mary. As the story goes, he was eating a sausage-on-a-stick, told her the friend she was waiting on wasn’t coming, so she might as well have a beer with him. They were married Friday, Oct. 13, 1995, aboard the Nordic Empress before it set sail from Miami to the Bahamas.
Mary and Jerry moved to Grapevine in 1996 and have lived there since. Lake Grapevine was his happy place. Being around the water was calming and relaxing for him.
Jerry worked for the U.S. Postal Service in the Maintenance Department and retired in 2015. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease later that year.
He was a proud Wisconsonite— he loved the Green Bay Packers, brats, cheese and beer.
The last three years were really challenging for Jerry as his Parkinson’s progressed. He fought like a champ but his body finally said, “Enough.”
Jerry was predeceased by his mother and father; his youngest brother, Dennis; and his mother-in-law, Flossie Jacob.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; brother Bill; granddaughter Paten; aunt Anne; and cousins in Wisconsin.
He also leaves behind his beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Rowdy and Calvin.
In lieu of f lowers, the family has requested donations be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation at www. parkinson.org, Michael J. Fox Foundation at www. michaeljfox.org, or King of Glory Lutheran Church at www.kingofglory.com.
A visitation was held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors in Grapevine on Saturday, Sept. 5.
The funeral was held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors in Grapevine on Sunday, Sept. 6.
The committal followed at Grapevine Cemetery in Grapevine on Sunday, Sept. 6.