James Alan Boerke

James (Jim) Boerke, 78, of Hazelhurst, WI, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2026,  surrounded by loving family.

Jim was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin to Barbara J. Reagles on October 13,1947. He spent the first few years of his life living with his maternal grandparents, Don and Dora Reagles, in Lone Rock, WI. After his mother married George Boerke, the family moved to Madison, where Jim attended Marquette and St. Raphael’s Elementary Schools. In 1954 they purchased a new home near Schenk Elementary which remained in the family until 2019. He also attended Schenk Jr. High as well as East and LaFollette High Schools. After graduating from LaFollette in 1965, he attended and graduated from UW-Platteville.

Jim met his future wife Margaret (Peggy) Rortvedt in Chemistry class in 1964. The couple married in 1969 in Madison after college graduation. Jim and Peggy had two children, Sean and Jodie.

He started his career in community planning and development as Assistant County Planner for Grant County, WI. He soon received an offer to move to Hamilton, OH and in 1970 would begin a 31-year tenure with the City of Hamilton. He held the following positions: Associate Planner, Senior Planner, Relocation Specialist, Economic Development Administrator, Deputy Director of Development and Planning Director. He was one of 3 finalists for the position of City Manager in 1998. While he was Planning Director, he managed a multi-year Community Visioning process that resulted in the award winning ‘Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan for Hamilton’.

Jim retired from the City of Hamilton in 2001. He immediately accepted a job to manage the planning for and replacement of all 18 City of Hamilton public school buildings. The project took a decade and resulted in 10 new buildings and 2 total renovations of existing buildings. It also involved the renovation of the football stadium and the construction of the basketball arena; all done on time, within budget, and to his high standards. He was grateful for the many friendships and community-building experiences that he participated in while living and raising his family in Hamilton. 

Jim enjoyed serving as the Trustee for the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments (13 years), Trustee for the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs (Miami University 10 years), a member of the Board of Directors of AllWealth Federal Credit Union (23 years), serving multiple years as Vice President or President.

In Hamilton, Jim was active in Boy Scout Troop 956 as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster. He led three High Adventure canoe trips to the wilderness of Maine and served as the Cincinnati Bicentennial Honor Corp Scoutmaster.

Other activities included SCCA road racing as a driver and flagger, geocaching enthusiast, stamp collector, playing softball and traveling. He loved nature and upon his retirement from Hamilton City Schools in 2013, Jim and Peggy moved to the Wisconsin Northwoods. Over the years, he maintained many professional and personal relationships, and added new ones in his local community.

Jim is survived by Peggy, his wife of 56 years; his children Sean (Elly) Boerke of Three Rivers, CA and Jodie (Chay) Lawrence of Flossmoor, IL; extended family Michelle Pinaud and Sandra Fary of Jericho, VT; Grandchildren: Cooper and Owen Pinaud, Roxanne and Nikolai Lawrence, and Abra and Ren Boerke; Siblings: Karen Jorgenson and Suzanne Bader; sister-in-law: Judy (Rolf) Running; brother-in-law: Peter (Teresa) Rortvedt. He was predeceased by his parents, grandparents, and brothers-in-law Charles Bader and Ron Jorgenson.

Memorial Gathering for Jim will be held on Wednesday, May 6th at Nimsgern Funeral Home Chapel in Woodruff, WI from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm followed by a Memorial Service at 4:00 pm.  There will also be a Remembrance Picnic at William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park, 4330 Libby Road, Madison, WI on Saturday, July 25th from 12:00 to 3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UW-Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association, 1500 Ullsvik Hall, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI 53818.

Online condolences may be shared at nimsgernfuneral.com

NIMSGERN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES IS SERVING THE FAMILY.