James Leo Finley, 82, of Monroe, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2025 at Aster Retirement home, surrounded by his children and loving wife of 60 years, Mary.
Jim was born on March 6, 1943 in Janesville, WI, the youngest of 5 children to parents Clarence and Ellen (Mooney) Finley. Jim grew up in Janesville and graduated from Janesville High School in 1961. He served in the Army National Guard from 1964 to 1970, and while home on leave he got engaged to the love of his life, Mary Phillips. They married on August 21, 1965 in Janesville, and last month celebrated 60-years of love and partnership. In the National Guard he served in the Culinary Department and developed his love and passion for cooking, especially cooking for family and friends with Mary. A meal prepared by Jim and Mary filled your taste buds with delight.
After graduating from high school, Jim began working in banking on June 14, 1961 at The Bank of Janesville. He started as a Cashier and progressed through the ranks over the next 10-years. He was recruited and joined The Bank of Zion (Zion, Illinois) in 1972 as President achieving a professional goal of becoming President before turning 30 years old. In 1980 he started his 30 year career at The Commercial Bank of Monroe as Executive Vice President. He was promoted to President in 1994. Through the years the bank changed names several times, yet Jim was a steadfast leader and advocate for the community and supporter of his customers. He will be remembered by colleagues for his deep banking knowledge, diligent work ethic, attention to detail, mentorship of staff, and occasional quick temper. Jim graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University in 1978. He was proud to be a member of numerous boards in the community, particularly spending more than a decade on the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin Workforce Development. Beyond his work, he enjoyed simple pleasures such as maintaining his yard, relaxing by the pool and spinning tales, and traveling with Mary. They particularly enjoyed international travel, be it to Ireland exploring his family heritage, Italy, China, South Africa or their cherished winter retirement months in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. He was especially proud of his role as a father and grandfather. He showed his love by joking and giving his family a hard time. He’ll be remembered by them for his “Bops’isms.” More recently he found tremendous joy in spending quality time with his great-granddaughter Claire. Jim was a fun-loving guy, with a quick wit, contagious laugh, giver of solicited and unsolicited advice with a can-do attitude. He deeply loved his friends, and was a presence in the lives of many of his children’s friends and families.
Jim will be dearly missed by his loving wife Mary (Monroe, WI); children Pam and Steve Hahn (Monroe,WI); Chris and Kristin Finley (Vancouver, WA); Tricia and Scott Threlkeld (Englewood, CO); and Cari and Doug Teff (Louisville, KY); grandchildren Morgan Kennison and Matt Kelly (Scales Mound, IL); Craig Kennison (Monroe, WI); Andrew Finley (Ridgefield, WA); Erik Finley (Ridgefield, WA): Meghan Finley (San Francisco, CA); Molly Threlkeld (Boulder, CO); Ella Threlkeld (Boulder, CO); Norah Teff (Spartanburg, SC); and Bea Teff (Louisville, KY); great granddaughter Claire Kelly (Scales Mound, IL); and special nieces Mary Jane Aebly (Albany, WI) and Danielle Natz (Krista) (Chicago, IL).
Jim was preceded in death by parents Clarence and Ellen Finley; parents-in-law Henry and Frances Phillips; sisters Mary Ellen (Richard) Dunphy; Sister Bernal Finley; Genevieve (Lyndon) Slayton; and brother Robert (Nancy) Finley, special nephew William Natz and many in-laws, nephews, cousins and friends.
A service to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 1329 31st. Avenue, Monroe, with a reception to follow. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Literacy Council of Green County, Family Promise of Green County Capital Campaign “A Place to Call Home” or Green Cares Food Pantry. The family wishes to thank Aster Assisted Living and SSM Hospice and Hospital for their support during this time. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
