James A. Will was born on November 2, 1930 and died on December 26, 2024, aged 94.

From childhood, Jim was always curious and never wanting to do the accepted thing.

Growing up in Wauwatosa, WI, he raised carrier pigeons and wanted to be a farmer.  He graduated from Wauwatosa Senior High School (now Wauwatosa East) in 1948 and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he majored in Meat and Animal Science.  After graduation, he stayed for a master's degree in Genetics.

Upon finishing this degree, he married Lorna Ruth Smithyman from Pewaukee and they went to Fort Riley, Kansas for his two years of Army duty.  During that time, they had two daughters, Lorna Ruth and Leslie Anne.  His dream of farming persisted, but after the army, they realized they could not afford to buy a farm, so Jim changed direction slightly and entered veterinary school at Kansas State University in nearby Manhattan.

In 1960, Jim and Lorna moved their family, which now included a son, James Jr, back to Wisconsin, where Jim bought a veterinary practice in Columbus.  Jim was in fulltime practice until 1963.  Being curious about many of the diseases of the livestock he saw, Jim entered a Ph.D. program at the University of Wisconsin. Over the next few years, he became expert in cardiovascular physiology and stayed in academics for the rest of his career.

Jim treasured the connections he made in academics and had lifelong friends all over the world due to his collaborations.  In the 1970s, he spent a sabbatical year at the University of Liverpool and was able to take his family along for a very special experience.  He was also a consultant for several European pharmaceutical firms, which allowed him to travel widely throughout Europe.  Until earlier this year, even after retirement, he helped colleagues at the University of Khon Kaen in Thailand write manuscripts for publication.  His efforts in research and collaboration were recognized by two momentous events:  his election to the Royal Academy of Medicine (London), and his receiving an honorary degree from the Crown Princess of Thailand.

Jim also displayed his curiosity in his personal hobbies.  He was an avid photographer since the 1950s and experimented with baking after he retired from fulltime academics.  And yes, he finally did buy a farm, although his planting and plowing days were limited to a few years before he rented out the land.

One of his greatest pleasures was being with his grandchildren:  Lindsay and Andrew Kuo.  He also got to know one great-grandson James, his namesake.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Lorna; children Lorna of Madison WI; Leslie Kuo (Paul) of Boston, MA; and James Jr (Adam Hamilton) of Townsville QLD Australia; grandchildren Lindsay Kuo (Daniel Klemperer) of Philadelphia and Andrew Kuo (Maggie) of Redondo Beach, CA, and 2 great-grandchildren: James Klemperer of Philadelphia and Emerson Kuo of Redondo Beach, CA. He was preceded in death by his brother John F. Will.

A memorial service will be planned for later this year. Memorials can be made to the University of Wisconsin Foundation or the James and Lorna Will Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine (fund V94237) at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

We encourage you to share your online condolences with James's family at jensenfuneralandcremation.com