James Robert Heller went peacefully home to his Heavenly Father on July 18, 2009 at Unity Hospice, De Pere. James was born on May 26, 1925 to Frank Heller and Catherine Jackowski in Montello. James was drafted into the Navy during his senior year at Montello High School and served as a Seamen First Class during WWII on the USS Lloyd, a destroyer used in the African Campaign and later in the war in the Phillipine reinvasion. Upon return from the war James got his GED and took an on the job training course in grocery management from the University of Wisconsin. James worked at stores in Portage and Elroy. He married Mary Jane Melchior on October 9, 1954 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom and settled in Green Bay. Jim worked at Nicolet Paper Corporation in De Pere as a paper tester until 1965 when he bought into Heller's Wayside Market in Union Center, WI. In 1967 he became sole owner of the business where he remained until retirement in 1985. He was affiliated with the Roundy's Inc grocery chain and later became a Certco store. Jim was a past Post Commander of the VFW in Elroy during the late '40s and '50s. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Union Center, Sun Lakes Arizona, and the Abbott Pennings Council in De Pere. He was also a past member of the Rotary Club in Elroy Wisconsin. He belonged to the American Legion in Union Center. Jim loved to fish, golf, talk, travel, and read western novels. He was also an avid fan of the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, his sons Robert (Tracey) and their children Nick (Katie), Tori, and Andrew of Gilbert, AZ as well as his son Scott, and granddaughters Kate, and Candy of Chandler, AZ. He is also survived by his brother John (Carolyn) of Menomonee Falls, his sister-in-law Mary Heller of Arlington, VA, his brother-in-law John (Nancy) Melchior of West Bend, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, sisters Florence (Ray) Hau, Lucille (Bud) Murphy, Ruth (Pete) Peterson, brothers Howard (Bess), Max (Charlotte), Francis, his father- and mother-in-law Dr. Carl and Gertrude Melchior, and a sister-in-law Doris Melchior. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Family De Pere with Father Tim Shillcox O.Praem., officiating on Friday July 24th at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Church. De Pere VFW Post 2113 will provide Military Tribute at the Church. Burial will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Cemetery, Union Center, WI at 12:00 noon Saturday with Father Nakwah, officiating. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Heller family. RYAN FUNERAL HOME of De Pere, Wisconsin (920) 336-3171 is assisting the family with arrangements. The Heller family extends a special thank you to all of the doctors at Bellin Hospital and Cardiology Associates for their care during the last months of Jim's life. Also, thanks to Dr. Jason Hoppe who cared for him for the last eight years. Thank you to the Rennes Nursing Home, Unity Hospice care facility and all of the nurses and CNAs at Bellin Hospital.