James J. Maples

James J. Maples, age 92, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2023.

Jim was born in Manitowoc to Stanley and Evelyn (Ahrens) Maples on June 10, 1930.  He was the oldest of four children.  A true native - Jim was born in Manitowoc, attended school in Manitowoc, raised a family in Manitowoc, enjoyed a career in Manitowoc, and if a road could bring you there, he could tell you a story about all things Manitowoc.

Jim graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948.  He was involved in athletics for most of his life, and he was most proud of being the captain of the Ship’s varsity basketball team.  From his famous buzzer beating hook shot to an impromptu post-game date with a cheerleader (his future wife, Marilyn), his basketball career seemed to be the center of his youth.  Jim’s love and pride for this time captaining the Lincoln High School basketball team was never forgotten throughout his entire life, but his focus following Lincoln quickly shifted to family and construction. 

Jim married the former Marilyn Ploederl - his high school sweetheart and Lincoln High’s “Ace of Aces” - on July 24, 1948.  That same summer, he also began his career at Vinton Construction Company as a laborer.  He worked in Vinton’s office during the winter months.  His dedication and work ethic allowed him to further his lifelong association with Vinton, where he was able to rise to positions of foreman, superintendent, and vice president.  His passion for Vinton and a knack for the road construction business ultimately allowed him to become owner and President of the company in 1992.  He served as President and Chairman of the Board until he retired in 2012, completing a 65-year career with Vinton Construction Company.  Despite his “retired” status, his love for the company and the industry made it such that he could never fully walk away.  He would routinely check on jobs and maintained an office in the company until the day of his passing.  His long career in the construction industry extended beyond Vinton.  Jim served as the President of the Wisconsin Concrete Pavers Association.  He served several terms on the Wisconsin Roadbuilders Association Board of Directors (now Transportation Builders of WI).  Jim was honored by the Wisconsin DOT for his lifetime dedication to the road building industry in 1989.  He was honored with the Secretary of Labor’s Distinguished Member award for his years of work with labor negotiations.  Jim was recognized by the State Department of Public Works for his expertise in construction of municipal roadways throughout the state.  He served on the Transportation Act Committee for seven years to help bolster the minority business program in the road building industry.  Yet despite these positions, awards, and achievements, Jim was most proud of Vinton, it’s employees, and the fleet of yellow, diamond branded trucks that became a staple of Manitowoc’s traffic throughout his career.  If asked what construction jobs he was most proud of, Jim would choose the reconstruction of College Avenue in Appleton, WI and the reconstruction of Waldo Boulevard in Manitowoc (Jim was 90 years old during the Waldo Blvd reconstruction).

Jim was equally proud of his family as he was of Vinton, and as his career evolved his family grew.  Jim and Marilyn celebrated 66 years of marriage until Marilyn’s passing on January 25, 2014.  Although Jim’s work schedule required much time away from home, they were inseparable in many ways.  Despite the rollercoaster that is life, Marilyn always remained in Jim’s eyes the talented, smart, and strong-willed Ace of Aces that he knew in high school.  They were especially inseparable in their later years when Marilyn struggled with Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.  Jim and Marilyn were blessed with three children - Dianne, Michael (Mike), and William (Bill).  Despite a demanding and time-consuming construction schedule, Jim loved watching his children grow and was so proud of their accomplishments and the people they became.  He was proud of Dianne’s academic achievements and the fact that she was the first member of the family to pursue a higher education degree.  He was proud of Mike’s athletic accomplishments as a child and especially of his ability to assume ownership and continue the growth and success of Vinton Construction Company.  He was proud of Bill’s knack for music at an early age and his medical career as an Oncologist at the Mayo Clinic.  The pride and love for his children continued with his son- and daughter-in-laws - and although he loved his in-laws dearly, he did not hold back from sharing his opinions and regular banter with each of them.  But where his children brought him the most joy was when they provided Jim with grandchildren.  Grandpa Jim somehow found time for all seven of his grandchildren.  From hikes on the “Indian Trail” in Manitowoc, to visits to the “Secret Place” in Manitowoc, to rides on various Vinton trucks, to beanbags and jailbreak in his basement, to games of horse (where the infamous high school hook shot would be referenced), to being seemingly the first grandpa in the world to own a Nintendo, to trips to Cedar Crest and Dairy Queen for ice cream, to Holidays spent together, to countless phone calls just to check in and say hi, Grandpa Jim was always fun, engaging, and involved in the lives of his grandchildren.  This was only furthered with travel.  Jim would make the simple trips in Manitowoc to support Kristin, Julie, and Jeff.  He would travel to Michigan to support Jessica and Kate.  He would travel to Florida to support Andy and Brian.  The travel continued with family trips to Hawaii and Florida - all to create time to spend with his family  (and especially his grandchildren).  As everyone knows, Jim shared an extra special relationship with his granddaughter, Julie.  Julie was and will forever be Jim’s companion, his helper, his travel partner (Jim was basically not allowed to travel to Florida without Julie), his dinner date, and perhaps his greatest source of joy and happiness. Although Jim is not writing this obituary, we know that he would encourage a special hug and thank you to be shared with Julie for providing him with some of the most genuine moments of joy and love in his life.

Outside of his career and his family, Jim was a life member of the Manitowoc Elks Club and the YMCA.  Jim and former YMCA Director, Bill Manis, were responsible for organizing the first “Little Hoopers” basketball league for kids on Saturday mornings at the Y.  Jim was a sports fanatic - and, to be exact, a Wisconsin sports fanatic.  He loved following the Packers, the Badgers, the Bucks, and the Brewers.  He attended hundreds of these sporting events in person, checked thousands of scores on the news and in the paper, and in his later years he would not miss a game if it was on TV.  He was famous for proclaiming a game to be “over” in the first quarter if he didn’t like what he was seeing and he would undoubtedly have an answer or a solution to any of his team’s struggles … which he would share without prompting.  Jim loved to watch the Packers with his “Packer Group” comprised of special friends and high school classmates (and Julie, of course).  Jim was extremely interested in History - in particular World War II.  He loved to share stories of life as a teenager during the Second World War and he would parallel current events to those he lived and experienced during this time.  He was interested and up-to-date on the political scene and would not hesitate to share his thoughts and opinions on these topics.  After Marilyn’s passing, he developed a special relationship with an old high school classmate, Joanie Birringer.  He was so appreciative of her companionship and the time they shared together.

Jim is survived by his three children:  Dianne (Dr. Kevin) Hollenbeck [Carmel, IN], Michael (Mary) Maples [Manitowoc, WI], and Dr. William Maples [Ponte Vedra Beach, FL].  He is survived by his seven grandchildren: Dr. Jessica (Wesley Porter) Hollenbeck [Carmel, IN], Kate Kilberg [Portland, OR], Kristin (Richard) Maples-Lamers [Manitowoc, WI], Julie Maples [Manitowoc, WI], Jeff Maples (Elaina Landreman) [Manitowoc, WI], Dr. Andy (Dr. Lindsay) Maples [Ponte Vedra, FL}, and Dr. Brian (Alex) Maples [Ponte Vedra, FL].  He is survived by thirteen great grandchildren:  James and Elena Porter, Joseph and Nathaniel Kilberg, Madison, Megan, and Michael Lamers, Maggie Grace, Will, and Parker Maples, and Romy, Maria, and Fitzpatrick Maples.  Jim is also survived by one brother, Gary (Connie) Maples [Sheboygan Falls, WI] and one sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sharon and Norbert Vogt [Manitowoc, WI].  Other nieces, nephews, and friends survive.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents (Stanley and Evelyn Maples), his wife (Marilyn Maples), his brother (Roger Maples), his sister (Judy Mason), and his daughter-in-law (Mary Ellen Maples).

After 92 wonderful years, Jim has certainly earned his right to reunite with those he loves in Heaven and to rest peacefully knowing that he left behind a job well done.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 25  at the Lakeshore Life Celebration Center (formerly Peace United Church of Christ), 3613 Waldo Boulevard, Manitowoc, with burial to follow in Evergreen Cemetery.  The family will receive relatives and friends at the Lakeshore Life Celebration Center from 8:30 AM until the time of the services at 11:00 AM. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s name to the Manitowoc Capitol Civic Center.   To make a donation online, visit https://cccshows.org/donate and under the heading “Make a Gift Online” click on “Square System” which will guide you through the donation process.  Alternatively, a personal check payable to “Capital Civic Center” with “James J. Maples Memory” entered on the memo line can be used.

The family would like to thank Dr. Richard Theobold, Amy Schleunes, APNP, Aurora Hospital, and the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville and Rochester) for their efforts to care for Jim over many years.  The family would also like to thank the staff’s of The Gardens at Felician Village and St. Mary’s Nursing Home, HomeCare Health Services, Ms. Lindsay Otte, Dr. Jon Henry, the therapists at Baycare Clinic Lakeshore, and the staff of Sharon Richardson Hospice Care for their professional dedication to Jim and the Maples family.

The Lakeshore Family Funeral Homes, Pfeffer location is assisting the family.  Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com.

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