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James Vance

James "Jimmy Joe" Vance, 64, Eau Claire, a longtime Stevens Point resident and former director of several educational opportunity programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP), died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at Dove Healthcare in Eau Claire.

Visitation will be held at Evergreen Funeral Home in Eau Claire from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15.

Funeral services will be held at noon Friday, Feb. 19, at Wesley Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Beloit. Interment will be in East Lawn Cemetery in Beloit.

Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, until the services.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Jim Vance Scholarship, RCU, PO Box 970, Eau Claire, WI 54702.

Condolences may be offered at email@evergreenfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Vance was born July 26, 1945, in Beloit, a son of the late Henry and Shirley (Hancock) Vance. He graduated in 1963 from Beloit Memorial High School where he distinguished himself in basketball and football, playing both sports for three years.

He attended UW-SP and received a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in education.

He served in Vietnam while in the military from 1968 to 1972.

He was married to Venerian Listenbee on Oct. 26, 1974, in Beloit.

He served at UW-SP from 1972 to 1988, becoming an assistant director of PRIDE (Programs Recognizing Individual Determination through Education) while he was still a student working on his bachelor's degree. He later became director of PRIDE, director of Student Services and director of Educational Opportunity Programs.

He served at UW-Eau Claire (UW-EC) from 1988 to 2002 as director of the American Ethnic Coordinating Office for Recruitment and Retention of Multicultural Students.

At both UW-SP and UW-EC, he developed programs designed to attract diverse students to university education and supported their success, championing the importance of diversifying college campuses.

He was a member and officer of the Wisconsin Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (WAEOPP), the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP) and the National Council of Educational Opportunity Associations (NCEOA). He served as president of both WAEOPP and MAEOPP and on the Board of Directors of NCEOA.

In 1982 he and M. Elizabeth Tardola authored the book "Mechanic and Technical Aspects of Conference Development," which set a standard for future accommodation conference/workshop chairs.

In 1998, the UW System awarded him the 1998 UW System Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award for Outstanding Service.

In 2002, he was appointed the first executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Devon Vance, Eau Claire; one son, Cian Vance, Eau Claire; and one brother, Francis E., Delavan.

He was also preceded in death by four sisters, Renee Harper, Virginia Hill, Barbara Vance and Shirley "Ann" Mikes; and three brothers, William "Billy," Robert "Raymond" and Gerald "Jerry."



	James Vance James "Jimmy Joe" Vance, 64, Eau Claire, a longtime Stevens Point resident and former director of several educational opportunity programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP), died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at Dove Healthcare in Eau Claire. Visitation will be held at Evergreen Funeral Home in Eau Claire from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday, Feb. 19, at Wesley Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Beloit. Interment will be in East Lawn Cemetery in Beloit. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, until the services. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Jim Vance Scholarship, RCU, PO Box 970, Eau Claire, WI 54702. Condolences may be offered at email@evergreenfuneralhome.com. Mr. Vance was born July 26, 1945, in Beloit, a son of the late Henry and Shirley (Hancock) Vance. He graduated in 1963 from Beloit Memorial High School where he distinguished himself in basketball and football, playing both sports for three years. He attended UW-SP and received a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in education. He served in Vietnam while in the military from 1968 to 1972. He was married to Venerian Listenbee on Oct. 26, 1974, in Beloit. He served at UW-SP from 1972 to 1988, becoming an assistant director of PRIDE (Programs Recognizing Individual Determination through Education) while he was still a student working on his bachelor's degree. He later became director of PRIDE, director of Student Services and director of Educational Opportunity Programs. He served at UW-Eau Claire (UW-EC) from 1988 to 2002 as director of the American Ethnic Coordinating Office for Recruitment and Retention of Multicultural Students. At both UW-SP and UW-EC, he developed programs designed to attract diverse students to university education and supported their success, championing the importance of diversifying college campuses. He was a member and officer of the Wisconsin Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (WAEOPP), the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP) and the National Council of Educational Opportunity Associations (NCEOA). He served as president of both WAEOPP and MAEOPP and on the Board of Directors of NCEOA. In 1982 he and M. Elizabeth Tardola authored the book "Mechanic and Technical Aspects of Conference Development," which set a standard for future accommodation conference/workshop chairs. In 1998, the UW System awarded him the 1998 UW System Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award for Outstanding Service. In 2002, he was appointed the first executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley. Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Devon Vance, Eau Claire; one son, Cian Vance, Eau Claire; and one brother, Francis E., Delavan. He was also preceded in death by four sisters, Renee Harper, Virginia Hill, Barbara Vance and Shirley "Ann" Mikes; and three brothers, William "Billy," Robert "Raymond" and Gerald "Jerry."