James "Jim" Michael Ward III

James M. Ward III of Elkhorn, WI died on Monday March 18, 2024 at St. Lukes Medical Center in Milwaukee; he was born in Elkhorn, WI on May 23, 1951.  James’ parents were James Jr. and OraBelle Ward.  He married his high school love, Janean Bray.  They have three sons; Breck, Jimmy (James IV), and Theon.  He has six grandchildren; Keely, Miriam, Sophie, Preston, Teagan, and Noah.

After earning a double major in English and History at UW Whitewater he taught at West Grant High School for five years.  Then Jim went to work at TSR Hobbies, his dream job.  During this time, he designed the first science fiction role-playing game in METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA.  And the first apocalyptic role-playing game in GAMMA WORLD.

At TSR he wrote many best-selling game products with the help of the design department.  Some of those products included the D&D supplement Gods, Demigods, & Heroes, the AD&D products Deities & Demigods, and the hardbound supplement of Greyhawk Adventures.

Jim wrote many groundbreaking game products including One-On-One books, Choose Your Own Adventure books, and Catacomb game books; the Spellfire Collectible Card Game, and the Dragon Dice Collectible Dice Game.

Jim was a publisher of Dragon magazine when it was selling 50,000 issues a month.  Jim wrote hundreds of articles for Dragon, Dungeon, and Polyhedron magazines.

After leaving TSR Jim continued to write game products, including a G.I. Joe book, as well as a G.I. Joe script for a cartoon show; the Great Shakes Charlie Brown dice game, Dragonscales and 77 Lost Words role-playing games using a deck of cards; Of Gods and Monsters clerical pantheon product, and what he considered his best work in the STORYTELLER’S THESARAUS, Hasbro’s Drangonball Z dice game, Playoffs Dragonball Z collectible card game, and Troll Lords Warden role-playing game.

Jim also wrote many novels including: the Ring, the Sword, and the Unicorn book, Pools of Radiance fantasy trilogy, Vatacan Gold historical drama, the Cursed Bridage fantast trilogy, Mage’s Mountain fantasy novel, Midship Wizard fantasy naval adventure, and the Wizard’s Ascending GameLit trilogy.

Jim is survived by his wife; Janean; his sons; Breck (Michelle) Ward, Jimmy Ward IV, Theon (Megan) Ward; grandchildren; Keely (Kevin Murphy) Ward, Miriam (Matthew Binkus) Ward, James Preston Ward V, Sophie Ward, Teagan Ward, Noah Ward; brother; Mark Ward; and many nieces and nephews.  Jim is preceded in death by his father James Ward Jr; his mother OraBelle Ward; and brother Larry Ward.

A Memorial Service for Jim will be held at Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory of Elkhorn, WI on Monday March 25, 2024 at 3:00PM.  Visitation will take place before the service beginning at 12:00 Noon.