James D. Payne

James Douglas “Jim” Payne, age 76 of Eastman, passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side on January 25, 2025, at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. Jim was a proud father to seven children, and a proud husband to Darlene Payne.

Jim was born in LaCrosse County on March 1, 1948, to Milford “Junior” and Judy (Grimsled) Payne. He grew up on a farm in Crawford County where he and his seven siblings were expected to work. He attended Seneca schools and shortly after graduation in January 1967, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. For his four years in the Navy, he spent 2 1/2 years on a helicopter carrier in the Virgin Islands and Cuba where he worked on the flight deck, played for the ships ball team, and was on a fleet that recovered an Apollo Mission. His last year in the military he spent time working on jets on Guantanamo Bay base. His exact quote, "I enjoyed serving and the duty wasn't bad."

After he was discharged from the military, he made his way back to the Seneca area and worked a few different jobs, but his heart was really set on farming. Within that decade he met Darlene Zabel while working on her family's farm. They married on December 19, 1981, and bought the farm that the family still resides on.

Jim didn't have an easy journey of health, but you would have never heard him complain, he was always grateful for the life he had. In 1993 he had his first heart attack and in 2003 his second, which led to his second chance at life in 2015 with the blessing of a heart transplant. He was very thankful for the amazing healthcare team at the Madison VA Hospital.

Jim was a devoted and loving father to all of his seven children and 41 grand and great grandchildren. He instilled in them life lessons of strength, perseverance, and unconditional love. His joys included being a parent, watching sports, playing softball on the Seneca Farmers team, anything outdoors, especially hunting, getting together with family and friends, attending his grandchildren's activities, and farming. He and Darlene both worked hard and enjoyed raising their children and maintaining the family farm.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Junior and Judy Payne; brothers, Dale and Gary (Wig) Payne; sisters, Judy Fisher and Bonnie Boland; sister-in-law, Ann Payne; brothers-in-law, Bernard “Butch” Boland and Bernard Linder; and nephews, Robert “Bob” Boland and Brian Fisher.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Darlene; seven children, Angie (Marshall) Mabb, Ed (Terri) Payne, Milo (Julie) Payne, Teesha (Chad) Smethurst, Jonathan (Maggie) Payne, Dustin (Megan) Payne, and Brittany (Joe Zook) Payne; siblings, Vicki Linder, Debra (Lennie) Davidson, and Richard “Rick” Payne; sister-in-law, Rochelle Payne; mother and father-in-law, Arthur and Lena Zabel; sisters-in-law, Judene (Mark) Schlee and Debbie (Kip) Hermann; brother-in-law, Donald Zabel; grandchildren, Amber, Clayton, Preston, Vince, Alexis, Morgan, Olivia, Nick, Ava, Christian, Aiden, Leo, Nolan, Taylor, Jared, Evan, Lily, Landon, Avery, Hayven, Irelynn, Emersyn, Mason, Caleb, Lena, Hudson, Mabel, Mavrick, and Kayleigh; 12 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at HUCKLEBERRY’S RESTAURANT in Prairie du Chien, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A memorial service by Pastors Lynn Schreck and Zach Bloom will begin at 1 p.m. with Military honors to follow.

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services of Madison is assisting the family. Online condolences can be shared at www.866allfaiths.com.