James T. Sullivan, 80, of Mercer and formerly of Hurley, WI, Sauk Village and Chicago, IL, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019, at his residence. Jim was born on February 15, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, a son to Patrick and Rose (Serafinski) Sullivan. He married Dolores C. Mlynarczyk on February 11, 1961, at St. Florian Church, in Chicago. After Jim served in the United States Navy for six years, he met and married Dolores. Jim worked at Republic Steel in Chicago for 27 years, where he was known as “Soo Line Sully”. Jim and Dolores retired up North to Mercer. Jim enjoyed boating and fishing, but he really loved to play Santa every year at the VFW in Hurley and Mercer Community Center. To see the faces of the children light up really brought him joy. Even though he moved up North, he remained a Chicago Bears fan and would watch the game as much as he could. Jim was a member of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Mercer, as well as a member of the American Legion Post 424. Jim was a devoted husband, father, Papa, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, great uncle, and friend. Jim will be greatly missed by all those who loved him Surviving is his wife, Dolores Sullivan of Mercer; daughters, Kathy (Ron) Henchel of Madison, WI, Sheila (Jeff) Gize of Mercer and Jenny Luse (Chip Orlikowski) of Mercer; grandsons, Jeffrey (Maggie) Gize and Aaron Luse of Mercer, Matthew (Lindsey) Henchel of Momence, IL and Daniel Henchel of Decatur, IL; granddaughters, Melissa Schlegelmilch of Philadelphia, PA and Emily Luse of Sun Prairie, WI; great-granddaughters, Madelyn, Kalyn, Charlotte, and Evelyn; a great-grandson, Lucas; sisters, Patricia “Patsy” Smith of Hurley, WI, Audrey Guild of Mercer and Joan (Jerry) Farrer of Phoenix, AZ; sisters-in-law, Camille Kovar of Carpentersville, IL and Frannie Stessl of Highland, IN; many nieces, great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews, cousins, and friends. Besides his parents and grandparents, James was preceded in death by his brother, Raymond “Murph”; sister-in-law, Rose; father-in-law, Frank; mother-in-law. Cecelia; brothers-in-law Bud, Norty, Jack, Victor, and Richard; many aunts, uncles, and nephews, Danny and Ricky. Cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Isaac Jogues, 5214 Lakeview Avenue, Mercer at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2019, with Fr. Joseph Mary Kodiganti as celebrant, preceded by a visitation from 10 am until the time of the Mass. Military rights will be performed at the church by the VFW Post 9536 and American Legion Post 424. Following the Mass, a Celebration of Life will take place at The Pines, 5234 N. Highway 51, Mercer. McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Ironwood, assisted in the arrangements. For more information or to express online condolences, please visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com .