James Macco earned his eternal rest with our Lord May 4, 2020.
Jim was born at his parent’s home in Sugar Bush, Wisconsin on October 23, 1931, to John and Marie Macco. He attended Luxemburg High School and graduated senior class president in 1949. At the age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served 4 years aboard the USS Quapaw in the South Pacific during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, Jim enrolled in Badger Business College where he graduated with a degree in bookkeeping and went to work at Thew Supply in Green Bay. In June 1957 Jim married Joan Jandrain.
In 1960, Jim purchased the Gambles hardware store in De Pere, WI. He grew the hardware store to include TV and Appliances as well as Floor Covering. In 1976, Jim opened Jim Macco and Sons Carpet Warehouse on Main Street in Green Bay. In 1981, he moved to a larger building on Main Street and changed the name of the company to Macco’s Floor Covering Center Inc. Today that firm now employees over 250 full time employees throughout Wisconsin and Florida. Jim never really retired until health issues forced him to slow down about six months ago.
Jim was a forward thinker. His company was one the first retailers in Green Bay to be computerized and one of the first to link more than one computer together in different cities. The internet did not exist, so he bought dedicated telephone lines from Green Bay to Sheboygan and Marinette to link his stores together. Software also did not exist, so he hired a full-time programmer and wrote his own software for his stores.
In the first 5 years of business he ran a company where all his staff was under 25. The stores were open 60 hours a week, he was there for every hour, he led by example. But one steadfast rule his wife Joan had was everyone must have their feet under the table for supper at 6 pm. Many nights he would drive home for supper only to drive back to work when he finished eating.
His reputation was that of a hard nose negotiator. Bill was a distributor in Milwaukee, and he is quite sure he was thrown out of Jim’s office more than anyone. He claims Jim tried to come across as a tough but deep down he knew a different man, one who was loving and caring and was always his first call when he needed a donation for a charity or favor. Some of Jim and Joan’s fondest memories are traveling all over the world with Bill and Terri.
He encouraged risk taking and delegated both responsibility and authority freely, but you could make a mistake once, but you best not make the same mistake again. To keep his office door open he had a mallard duck door stop. If he called you up to his office and met you with the duck in his hand, you knew the door was going to be closed and the meeting was not going to be pleasant. He never raised his hand but certainly raised his voice. But you knew you would NEVER hear of that issue again. The next day there was no grudge, no residual anger or resentment. It was as if it never occurred, never to be brought up again. Jim was old school all the way but also kind and loving and those who knew him or worked with him are better people from the experience.
Jim gave the gift of personal responsibility and risk taking. He saw the family through many hard times and failures and never externalized that onto anyone or anything. As a result, that gift fostered additional business now run by his children and grandsons in Wisconsin, Tennessee and Florida, doing business in all 50 states and together employing over 500.
What Jim was most proud of by far was his family. He loved entertaining at his cottage on Chute Pond with family and friends. He was exceptionally proud of each of his children and respected everyone’s career choices. He was an unwavering provider and never seemed happier than when he would see the looks on his kid’s faces when they woke up Christmas morning.
Jim is survived by his wife Joan of 62 years, his six children, John and Sue Macco, Jeff and Lisa Macco, Mike and Anne Macco, Jean and Scott Baier, Mark Macco and Sam Hall, and Jim and Lisa Macco; 11 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and Jim’s two sisters, Mary Lou Todd and Joan Karnop as well as a siister-in-law, Ruth Macco.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Macco; his brother, Don Macco; his sister, Dorothy Cappell; and brother’s in-law; Tony Cappell, Warren Todd and Victor Karnop.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 11:00 am at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Dr. with Rev. Tom Reynebeau officiating. Full military honors will take place immediately following the funeral Mass. Entombment in the Allouez Chapel Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the James J. Macco Memorial Scholarship fund for the Trades, a career choice very close to Jim. This fund provides scholarships for men and women seeking a career in the construction industry.