James McMahon
September 14, 1938 - April 24, 2021
Obituary
A Livestream of the Mass of Christian Burial for James McMahon will be available at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the following link:
St. Peter Catholic Church Facebook Page
MADISON – James E. “Jim” McMahon, age 82, passed away on April 24, 2021 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, WI. He was born on September 14, 1938 in Milwaukee, WI to parents, Lawrence and Helen (Maertz) McMahon. Jim was a 1956 graduate of Wauwatosa East High School. He also attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army. Jim married Diane M. Horvath on June 5, 1965 in Milwaukee and they shared over 55 happy years together.
Throughout his dedicated career, Jim was store manager for Godfrey Company 1963-1982, co-owner of McMahon Foods, Inc. in Racine 1982-1989, and co-owner of McMahon Foods, Inc. in Madison 1989-1996. Diane and his daughter Nancy worked with him at their family business where Jim instilled strong values of customer service and the importance of a can-do attitude always.
Jim had a strong sense of adventure, a zest for life. He was a natural athlete and started playing tennis at the North Shore Racquet Club as part of a men’s league year round back in the 1970’s. When his daughter became interested in the sport in grade school, he started a once weekly ritual of coaching her after dinner and was her biggest fan during tournaments at the club.
A lifelong golfer, he became a member of Cherokee Country Club when he and Diane moved to Madison, playing in countless tournaments. After retiring from the grocery business, Jim and Diane frequented the Carolinas for three months every year to avoid the Wisconsin winters and play as much golf as possible.
Jim is survived by his wife, Diane McMahon; daughter, Nancy Gilbride; grandchildren, Calvin and Molly Gilbride; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Margaret Grinnell and Mary Ellen Nord.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 22, 2021 at ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, with Father Grant Thies presiding. A Visitation will take place one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society. To access livestream link and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.
Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services
2418 N. Sherman Avenue
608-249-8257