May 2, 1929 – March 30, 2025
James Jay Ingwersen was born May 2, 1929 in Evanston, Illinois to parents Bertha Mae Gebo and Louis Henry Ingwersen; beloved siblings Barbara Lou and Robert Dean.
James attended New Trier Township High School, graduating from Evanston High School, where he credits his art teacher for first encouraging him to pursue the arts. He studied at The American Academy of Art, Chicago, and apprenticed with renowned artist Earl Gross of Stevens-Gross Studios. After which, James was accepted to the prestigious Tree Studio Building and Annexes of Chicago and began a career doing commissioned portraits of esteemed academicians and circuit court judges.
James and Phyllis Catherine Prybelick were married on Nov. 4, 1960 and in 1970 the couple purchased a property in Door County with a historic campus built by Pomeranian settlers featuring stove wood buildings dating to 1865. James and Phyllis spent the next several decades preserving the land and transforming the historic campus into the James J. Ingwersen Studio Gallery, where they hosted musical and artistic events for the public.
For more than six decades, James spent his life behind an easel exploring a variety of genres including still life, Door County and Arizona landscapes, wildlife and pastoral scenes, live model compositions, historic figures and portraiture. James continued to take commissions and particularly enjoyed painting the likeness of children.
Following his passion for land conservation, James became one of the original founders of the Door County Land Trust, established in 1986. James is also highly regarded as a Door County Legacy Artist, whose paintings, alongside friend Gerhard CF Miller, founded the Miller Art Museum’s permanent collection.
Prior to his passing, James partnered with the Peninsula School of Art and generously donated the historic property to the school in order to steward his legacy in Door County, ensuring art and educational events for future generations.
In keeping with James’s wishes, no funeral or celebration of life will be planned. Later this year, however, Peninsula School of Art will host a community celebration of the Ingwersen’s’ legacy – date and time to be announced. Memorials can be made in James J. Ingwersen’s name to Peninsula School of Art (PO Box 304, Fish Creek, WI 54212), by check or online at:
https://peninsulaschoolofart.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gifts-in-honor-or-memory
James was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis Catherine Prybelick, mother Bertha Mae Gebo Ingwersen, father Louis Henry Ingwersen, sister Barbara Ingwersen Davidson, brother Bob Ingwersen, his nieces Sandy and Nancy Davidson.
Jim is survived by his niece Karen Davidson Seward (Peter), nephew Peter Ingwersen, and niece Lisa (Ingwersen) Dupre, Cory Lindholm (Dorothy) and Jay Lindholm.
