Firefighter Jim Higgens never objected when it was his turn to cook at his station. He liked to prepare meals, although he didn’t cook much at home.

“All the firemen liked his shepherd’s pie,” his wife Janet said, adding that she had originally given him the recipe. “He used to go deer hunting and bring the shepherd’s pie there, too.”

Kenosha firefighters showed their honor and respect for their firefighting brother in two separate displays near local fire stations. In full firefighting gear, the firefighters stood alongside their engines and saluted as the hearse transporting Higgens’ casket drove by on the route from the funeral home to Green Ridge Cemetery.

James F. Higgens, 75, of Kenosha, died on Jan. 20, 2010, leaving Janet; three sons, David, Donald and Steven; four grandchildren; a sister, Catherine Winters; and extended family and friends.

A native Kenoshan, he attended local schools and was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He worked at American Motors briefly before and after his tour of duty, before becoming a Kenosha firefighter in 1965. He served at nearly every Kenosha Department Fire Station during his 28-year career before retiring in 1993.

That year, he also retired from his business, Quality Upholstery, which he operated for more than 25 years out of his basement.

His craftsmanship was well known, as customers would patiently wait three years on his waiting list to get their chairs, couches and sofa beds re-upholstered.

Jim and Janet married in 1960 and would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.

Many vacations were spent tent camping at Devil’s Lake when his children were young and, when he was a younger man, Jim liked to wet a line for panfish.

“He never caught much, but he went fishing,” Janet said. “He always said he was going to start up again, but he never got to it.”

Higgens was a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers.

In warmer seasons, Tuesday mornings was reserved for golfing with a group of buddies at Petrifying Springs Golf Course. He bowled on a Thursday night Men’s League at Sheridan Lanes and bowled two afternoons a week in open play.

He was an avid reader who loved non-fiction, especially on the subjects of science, astronomy and space travel.

Jim had an artist’s eye and the walls of his home are covered with examples of his works of art. He particularly like landscapes and painted from photographs and postcards.

One streetscape in England depicts Janet and his youngest son Steven.

He also liked to craft model airplanes.

He had painted a winter scene with snow and, at Christmas a month before his death, he and Janet traveled to Texas to be with Steven’s family. Jim gave the painting to his grandchildren, who never see snow.

“They hung it on the wall and the youngest boy, Chase, said ‘It stays there’. He didn’t want them to move it,” Janet said.