James Joseph Behringer, age 89, dedicated father and grandfather, as well as active outdoorsman, passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Janesville, WI.

Jim was born in Milwaukee, WI on January 18, 1937 to the late Elmer and Gertrude (Niquette) Behringer. He moved to Manitowoc at age 2, where he spent most of his life.

After graduating from Lincoln High School in Manitowoc in 1955, he pursued his artistic talents at Layton School of Art and Design in Milwaukee, graduating in 1959. Jim first worked as an air brush artist in Milwaukee while he joined and served in the Air Force Reserve, based at Chinoot Air Force Base in Illinois from 1960-66. During those years, he won 1st place on carbine among 800 other airmen.

Jim then worked as a product designer for Mirro Aluminum 1960-69 in Manitowoc, and then for Thomas Industries in Fort Atkinson, 1969-70. After this, he owned and operated his own printing business – Hoeffner Printing - in Manitowoc for more than 30 years, merging his artistic talents with his business and organizational skills.

Beyond his work, Jim loved to be active outdoors with friends and family, growing up hunting and fishing and later sharing it with his family, telling them all about black bass. He similarly loved to downhill ski with his family, bringing them to Colorado and Upper Michigan to ski well into his 70s. He was also a strong and avid bicyclist who bought his first e-bike at age 80, which he said “brought the fun back into biking.” Around Manitowoc, Jim was widely regarded as the most reliable guide for groups of bicyclists in the summer and for snowshoeing through Two Rivers’ Point Beach State Park area.

Survivors include Jim’s brother William (Carol) Behringer; children Barbara (David) Geiser, Nicholas Behringer, Elizabeth (Jerry) Bailey and Andrea (Mark) Fossum-Grall; as well as many loving grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert Behringer; sister, Joan (Babe) Reimer, and his daughter, Sarah Louise Behringer.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home in Manitowoc, WI. Immediately after the service, military honors will be accorded at the Manitowoc Yacht Club, where a reception and light dinner for family and friends will follow. The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home ahead of the service, beginning at 12:30 pm. Burial of Jim’s remains will occur at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory would be warmly welcomed to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc or the Manitowoc Fish and Game Protective Association.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.