James Flad

James “Jim” Francis Flad, age 78, passed on to eternal life on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Agrace Hospice, surrounded by his family. The past five years, Jim had endured lymphoma with six months of chemotherapy, quadruple bypass surgery, and a continuing regimen of medications to address various autoimmune diseases. He accepted all medical setbacks prayerfully and courageously.

Jim was born on February 17, 1947, in Madison Wisconsin, the first child of Joseph and Patricia Flad. Jim’s early years were punctuated with Indian folklore, and a love of sports, particularly basketball and baseball, where he excelled as a hard, throwing, right-hander in the city’s, midget, and junior leagues. He attended Edgewood High School and distinguished himself on EHS’s inaugural tennis teams.

An avid student, Jim was particularly proud of his political science degree from UW Stevens Point, and his masters degree in international affairs from Florida State University. Captivated by the Florida weather, Jim enjoyed administrative jobs in Tallahassee, Miami, and Palm Coast before returning to Madison in 1985 as co-developer/sales agent of the Coventry Condominiums in Madison’s Hilldale neighborhood. It was Jim’s creative experience with real estate development that ignited a new-found passion, photography. The next twenty years, Jim enjoyed great success as a professional photographer with his signature photograph, “Bert’s Bath”, which sold over 40,000 posters in 26 countries.

The intersection of travel and religious fervor took Jim on a Catholic pilgrimage to Medugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was that pilgrimage to Medugorje that deepened Jim’s Catholic faith and devotion. He answered the call of Pro Labore Dei and established the apostolate in Madison Wisconsin in 2003 feeding the homeless in downtown Madison. A nonprofit run by volunteers that continues their mission of feeding and clothing the homeless to this very day.

Jim’s love of camping resulted in a truly “déjà vu encounter” meeting his future wife, Becky Seeling, who totally shared his devotion to the great outdoors. Already well into his sixties, Jim says he wasn’t looking for a wife at that “rendezvous” along the Mississippi River years ago, but did he ever find a good one! These past ten years of marriage have been punctuated by sincere love and care and oh yeah – cooking. No one was better nourished in Dane County these past few years than Jim Flad. Becky has been a “Rock Star” attending to Jim during these various medical setbacks.

Jim was a kind, gentle and considerate man. He particularly valued his family, his faith and his volunteer community of Pro Labore Dei. His lifelong infatuation with cars (Porsche), and unique bicycles, with great design and craftmanship, never waned over his lifetime.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Jim will be remembered as a loving, caring brother to John (Coleen), and Julie (Tom) and the outdoorsy, spirited Uncle Jimmy to Jennifer (Pete) Marino, Andrew (Ana) Flad, Brian (Megan) Flad, Kiera Flad, Lindsey (Adam) Lemmer, and Alyana (Matt) Lemmer.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Julie Chang, Carbone Cancer Center, and Nurse Navigator Mary Beth Henry, UW Hospital and Clinics. Also, the family would like to share sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the angels at Agrace Hospice and Comfort Keepers for their quality, attentive care of Jim.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 5313 Flad Avenue, Madison at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 11,2025 with Monsignor Kevin Holmes presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 AM until the time of Mass on Wednesday. Private family burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Pro Labore Dei,
c/o Becky Flad
3641 Okanogan Court
Verona, WI 53593

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church
5313 Flad Ave.
Madison, WI 53711

Edgewood High School
2219 Monroe St.
Madison, WI 53711

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Legacy Center
6728 Mader Drive
608-274-1000