James Bartholf, 85, of Monroe, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on October 8, 2025, surrounded by his children and loving wife of 61 years, Geri.
Jim was born on February 14, 1940 in Burlington, Wisconsin to his parents, Esther & Bryce Bartholf. Jim and his older brother, David, grew up in Burlington and Jim graduated from Burlington High School in 1958. Jim attended college and graduated in 1962 from the Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology in Platteville, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts Education. Jim received his Master of Industrial Education degree from the University of Platteville in 1977. Jim started his teaching career at Purdy Junior High from 1962 to 1965 in Marshfield, Wisconsin. That is where he met his future wife. Jim married Geraldine A. Rowe from Menonomie, Wisconsin on February 15, 1964 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Jim and Geri moved to Monroe in the summer of 1965. Jim was a teacher at Monroe High School for 33 years from 1965 to his retirement in 1998. Jim taught in the technical education department and was known for his drafting and photography classes.
Coach Bart was the Boys Tennis Coach in Monroe for 44 years and the Girls Tennis Coach for 17 years. He was named Wisconsin Tennis Coach of the Year for boys in 1995 and girls in 1998. He was inducted into the Wisconsin High School Coaches Tennis Hall of Fame in November of 2009. His boys team won the State Division 2 Tennis Team Championship in 1996. He also coached numerous all state and state participants through his coaching career. He was named the Monroe Jaycees Outstanding Educator in 1997. He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe Jaycees, Alpine Curling Club, and Cubmaster of Pack 101 in Monroe in the 70s. Jim was the director of the Monroe City Summer Tennis Tournaments for 44 years and was a past member of the State Tennis Advisory Committee and State Tennis Seeding Committee.
Jim was gentle, kind, competitive and was so much fun to be around. He was an avid Wisconsin Badger Basketball fan where he had season tickets and traveled for tournaments. He enjoyed fishing, especially the annual trip to Bear Island Lake in Northern Minnesota, card playing, landscaping activities, country music, slots at the casino, attending Monroe High School games and events and just being around teenagers.
Jim is survived by his wife, Geri, and his children: Michael (Susan) of Verona, Wisconsin, Christopher (Patricia) of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Daniel of Monroe; and his eight grandchildren: Trenton, Jordan, Hannah, Nicholas, Addison, Carsen, Graysan, and Emersyn. He was preceded in death by his father, Bryce (1983), mother, Esther (1988), and brother David (2023).
Visitation will be at the Newcomer Funeral Home in Monroe on Friday, October 17, 2025 from 4pm to 7pm. A service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church in Monroe at 11am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in his honor to Grace Lutheran Church or the Monroe High School in support of the tennis program. Condolences may also be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net. The family would like to thank the caring nurses and health care providers at the SSM Hospice program and Pleasant View Nursing Home for their care and devotion provided to Jim and family for the last few weeks of his life.
