James Dulemba

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — James John Dulemba passed away peacefully at home with family at his side on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Born June 20, 1940, and raised in Jackson, James was a graduate of Jackson High School in 1958. He quickly found his calling in the fine arts and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Michigan State University in 1963 and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in 1966.

As a graduate student, Dulemba held simultaneous graduate assistantships at MSUwith art history professor Dr. Eldon Van Liere and Artist-in-Residence John Stockton DeMartelly. Also, while a graduate student, Dulemba held a temporary teaching position for one semester at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, returning to complete the MFA in 1966. He was an Instructor of Art at Western Michigan University during the 1966 school year.

Dulemba put his talent to work as a commercial artist at WAEO-TV, Rhinelander, Wis. 1969-1973. He then moved on to the news department of WDSM-TV, Duluth, Minn. A finalist in the American Film Institute’s Independent Filmmaker competition in 1970, that undoubtedly infl uenced his hiring at WDSMTV/KBJR, Duluth, as a commercial artist/photographer.

In 1977, he spent one year as an instructor in the Communicating Arts Department at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and later (1980) taught a class at UW-Superior’s School of Business.

He became the communications specialist/advertising administrator at Minnesota Power in 1978, retiring as a publications designer after 17 years in 1995. Frequently biking from Superior to work in Duluth, (plus racing, including RAGBRAI four times) it is estimated that Dulemba’s lifetime bicycle mileage was well over 80,000 miles. His athletic feats also included the Circle Superior Ski Classic as well as running Grandma’s Marathon (breaking 4 hours) at the age of 50.

He married Roberta (Magnet) in 1972 and they moved to Superior, Wis. where they lived for 27 happy years. In addition to bike-racing with Roberta, during this time he coached seventh/ eighth grade basketball and also served as a director at the Douglas County Historical Society for four years. He and Roberta retired to Eau Claire and much of his time was devoted to studying and writing about Western U.S. history.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta Ann (Magnet), daughter of Robert and Alice Magnet (deceased) of Iron River; and his son, Nicholas Aaron Dulemba.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Bernard Dulemba and Dorothy Rita (Rynarzewski) Dulemba; grandparents, Michael and Sophia Dulemba, Blanche Skibinski Rynarzewski (re-married to Frank Ruminiski, Bay City); and brother, Thomas Dulemba.

James Dulemba was a smart, strong, talented and decent man.

He will be missed.

Private services will be held.

Chippewa Valley Cremation Services – Celebration of Life Center is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.chippewavalleycremation.com