James Schlindwein

Jim Schlindwein, 85 of Austin, Texas, died at his home in Austin, on May 26, 2014. A Memorial Mass will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Msgr. Carl Schmitt celebrating the Mass. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Hampton. Friends may greet the family beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Jim to the Alzheimer’s Association will be appreciated. Jim was born Oct. 26, 1928 in Calmar, the son of Elizabeth Katherine Schneider and Leonard Joseph Schlindwein. Jim grew up in a close-knit middle-class family in the small town of New Hampton. With twelve children in the family, Jim learned both how to cooperate and to compete. The traditional values he learned in that small town and large family served him well throughout his life. After a brief stint in the US Army President’s band, Jim set out on a business career with fervor. Jim was quickly recognized for his talent and drive, and became a visionary in the American and international food industry, leading the Sara Lee Corporation into a period of rapid growth. Jim served as President & CEO, and finally Chairman & CEO. Jim went on to build a few young businesses, but then joined a longtime colleague at SYSCO Corporation in Houston in 1980, and joined the Board of Directors just two years later. During his 15 years at SYSCO, Jim contributed to its rise to become one of the top one hundred public corporations in America. Jim’s move to SYSCO was fortuitous in another way. He met and married Suzanne. Together they shared more than 30 years of courtship and marriage, and blended their families of four children: Jim and his wife Sue, Janet, Pam and her husband Larry, and Alex; and six grandchildren: Dan, Ann Marie, Caitlin, Susie, Nicole and Trey. Jim officially retired from SYSCO in 1994 but could not help himself from helping others realize their dreams. He served on over a dozen boards and in consulting and advisory roles to entrepreneurs throughout the country. Eventually his protgs were flying alone, so he and Suzanne set their sights on travel, golf, entertaining, charities, and enjoying cool summers in Wisconsin and warm winters in Texas.