James A. Becker

James “Jim” Becker was born November 29, 1944 in Milwaukee, to Virginia and Raymond Becker. He was the eldest of 4 children. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering for electrical engineering in 1974, and earned his MBA there in 1995. He served in the Army as a radar specialist from 1969 to 1971. He married Lucille “Lucy” Kumenius, September 1, 1973. They had 2 sons, Brad and Brian, and three grandsons, Samuel, Julian, and Corbin. Jim loved engineering and worked for many noteworthy Milwaukee companies such as Eaton, Johnson Controls, Kohler, Cutler-Hammer, and Rockwell Automation. However, engineering was not his only interest; he was also an accomplished artist. He played the upright bass in a band in his youth and recreationally for his whole life. He also was an accomplished woodworker. He dabbled in sculpting, ceramics, metal casting, jewelry making, rock tumbling, and much more. His sense of humor and strong work ethic were his hallmarks. He also valued family and his relationship with God. His faith life was strong and he now rests peacefully and eternally with our Lord and Savior. He was preceded in death by his sisters Julianne Jankowski and Margaret Michalski. He is survived by his loving wife, his brother, William “Bill” Becker, his sons and grandsons, his daughters in law, Amy (Salminen) and Jennifer (Leonard), his nephew Paul Barker, and niece Jean Hardeman. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to some causes that were near and dear to Jim's heart: Empty Bowls, an event and organization that feeds the hungry, the Milwaukee School of Engineering where he studied engineering and also earned his MBA, or Horizon Hospice who provided exemplary and compassionate care for him and his family during the later stages of his life.