Obituary: James Francis Balthazor - Class of 1935

BARABOO - James Francis Balthazor, age 89, of Baraboo, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at St. Clare Meadows Care Center, Baraboo. James was born on June 26, 1916, to Leo and Elsie (Ryan) Balthazor in Fond du Lac. After graduating from Central High School in Madison, he was employed at Tursky's Motorcycle Shop, where he met Cora Morkred, a college student at UW. They were united in marriage on Nov. 8, 1936. After living in Portage a few years, they moved to Baraboo in 1940. Cora preceded James in death in June 1996. On Sept. 8, 2000, James was united in marriage to Thelma Thom. James served in the U.S. Navy for two years during World War II. He served aboard the U.S.S. Kittson as a radar man. The U.S.S. Kittson was deployed in the Pacific Theatre where they took part in the battle of Okinawa. After the war, James began a career in sales with the Coleman Company. He retired in 1982 after 36 years with the company, where his picture hangs in the Coleman Hall of Fame, Wichita, Kan. James was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, a charter member of Golden K and belonged to V.F.W. Greenwood Memorial Post No. 987. He is survived by his wife Thelma, of Baraboo; two children, Patricia (Gene) Melvin of Cerritos, Calf., and Michael (Susan) Balthazer of Columbia, S.C.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Cora; two brothers; two sisters; and his parents. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 624 East St., Baraboo, with Pastor Myron Schwanke officiating. Burial will take place in Walnut Hill Cemetery with military rites conducted by the V.F.W. Greenwood Memorial Post No. 987. Visitation will be on Friday, June 23, 2006, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the RAGO-BALDWIN FUNERAL HOME, Baraboo, and on Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service Memorials, if desired, may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinsons Research. Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home 520 East St. Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-4656BARABOO - James Francis Balthazor, age 89, of Baraboo, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at St. Clare Meadows Care Center, Baraboo. James was born on June 26, 1916, to Leo and Elsie (Ryan) Balthazor in Fond du Lac. After graduating from Central High School in Madison, he was employed at Tursky's Motorcycle Shop, where he met Cora Morkred, a college student at UW. They were united in marriage on Nov. 8, 1936. After living in Portage a few years, they moved to Baraboo in 1940. Cora preceded James in death in June 1996. On Sept. 8, 2000, James was united in marriage to Thelma Thom. James served in the U.S. Navy for two years during World War II. He served aboard the U.S.S. Kittson as a radar man. The U.S.S. Kittson was deployed in the Pacific Theatre where they took part in the battle of Okinawa. After the war, James began a career in sales with the Coleman Company. He retired in 1982 after 36 years with the company, where his picture hangs in the Coleman Hall of Fame, Wichita, Kan. James was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, a charter member of Golden K and belonged to V.F.W. Greenwood Memorial Post No. 987. He is survived by his wife Thelma, of Baraboo; two children, Patricia (Gene) Melvin of Cerritos, Calf., and Michael (Susan) Balthazer of Columbia, S.C.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Cora; two brothers; two sisters; and his parents. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 624 East St., Baraboo, with Pastor Myron Schwanke officiating. Burial will take place in Walnut Hill Cemetery with military rites conducted by the V.F.W. Greenwood Memorial Post No. 987. Visitation will be on Friday, June 23, 2006, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the RAGO-BALDWIN FUNERAL HOME, Baraboo, and on Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service Memorials, if desired, may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinsons Research. Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home 520 East St. Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-4656

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 23, 2006 James Francis Balthazor's class year is based on information in the 1935 Orange & Black yearbook, where he is pictured amongst the members of the June graduating class.