Obituaries & Guestbook

James (“Jim”) Arnold Mlsna, age 80, died Wednesday September 13, 2023, after a three-year struggle with dementia and a recent debilitating stroke. He survived a heart attack in the Colorado mountains, but recently decided it was time to go home. He was born November 28, 1942, in Viroqua, Wisconsin, the son of Arnold and Janet (Silha) Mlsna. He was a graduate of Cashton High School, class of 1960. Following high school, he joined the Navy and spent three years at Great Lakes Naval Base. After his discharge, he worked as an operating room orderly at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, where he met his wife, Jocelyn (“Jo”) Aikin. They were engaged within three months and Jim began training as an Operating Room Technician at St. Clare Hospital in Monroe, Wisconsin. After their wedding on October 15, 1966, they had two daughters and Jim decided to further his medical training and entered Madison General Hospital School of Nursing (where Jo was his pediatrics instructor). He received a Registered Nurse license in the three-year program, followed by two years of training at Mayo Clinic Anesthesia School to receive his Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist degree. Jim was employed for four years at Beloit Memorial Hospital, followed by a long career at HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital and Anesthesiology Associates of Sheboygan. After retiring in 2003, he was able to enjoy more of his hobbies and passions of fishing, hunting, camping, traveling to England, and woodworking. He was very involved at St. Dominic Church, being on the Parish Council, chairperson of the Building and Grounds Committee for several years, and Thursday morning Grounds Crew. He refurbished all the pews and repaired all the kneelers and also made several oak wood items for use in church. He was a member of the “Ninety-Nine” Club and the Suscha-Fale Sportsman’s Club. Along with his loving wife of 56 years, Jo, he is survived by two daughters Tracy Lynn (Timothy) Taylor and Vicki Ann (David) Macklin; brothers Gary, Mark, Pat, and Phil Mlsna and sisters Karen (Donald) Hammes, Annette Stevens, and Marla (Kent) Klocke and numerous nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may gather at St. Dominic Catholic Church 2136 N. 21st Street, Sheboygan on Saturday September 16, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at 12:00 p.m. Military honors will be accorded immediately following Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following charitable organizations: Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, St. Dominic Parish, Alzheimer’s Association, and American Heart Association, or any organizations that would honor Jim’s memory and passions in life. The family would like to thank the staffs of HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, Harvest Home Assisted Living and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their professional and compassionate care.