Jim Wallace, age 88 of Lake View, IA, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 16, 2021, at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View.
James William Wallace was born on August 25, 1932, to parents LaVerne and Lucena (Segelke) Wallace in Cherokee, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee. Jim and his sister, Barbara, were raised in Cherokee where they attended school. Jim graduated from Cherokee High School with the class of 1950. He then attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA, before being drafted into the United States Army in January of 1953. Jim served his country during the Korean War as a Corporal. He was honorably discharged on October 21, 1954. Upon returning home, Jim attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA.
On April 10, 1955, Jim married the love of his life, Norma Lydia Goslar, at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, IA. This union was blessed with three sons: Geoffrey, Craig, and Timothy. They lived in West Branch, IA, for a short time before moving back to Cherokee. In 1957 Jim was approached by the Buena Vista County game warden, Frank Starr, about working for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He would soon find this occupation to be his life-long passion. Jim received the Frank Starr Conservation Award from the Little Sioux Wildlife Association. Jim and Norma moved to Lake View where he worked as a conservation officer for both Sac and Ida counties in Iowa for thirty-two years before retiring in 1989.
Jim was the epitome of what it means to be an outdoor enthusiast. His love of the environment and determination to preserve it was impressive. He devoted a lot of his time educating others, especially area youth, about the importance of treating the environment respectfully. He was an active member of the Sac County Sportsman’s Club. Jim organized the Sac-Carroll Conservation Camp attended by numerous area youth allowing kids hands-on experiences in the great outdoors. Jim was also known for providing area youth with new fishing poles. This was something he thoroughly enjoyed and always brought a smile to his face. Many area youth owe their interest in conservation to Jim’s enthusiasm towards Iowa’s abundant natural resources. Trees....some ‘seven hundred thousand’ (Jim’s calculation was a little off) were planted by Jim throughout his lifetime, a true testament to his love of the outdoors. Jim was approached by KCIM Radio Station to present a weekly hunting and fishing report which is now being continued by his grandson, Ben.
After Jim retired, he and Norma experimented with charter fishing on Lake Michigan. He obtained his US Coast Guard 50 Ton Master License and captained the “Jolly Fisherman” for two years. He and Norma entertained many friends and family on their boat the “Sunchaser”. To say Jim liked to fish is an understatement. His love of fishing, along with the passion and knowledge that he held for the water and everything that lives in it, was second to none. While home was always Black Hawk Lake, he and his family enjoyed fishing trips all over the nation. The Florida Keys, Texas, Arkansas, Utah, New Hampshire, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, just to name a few.
Jim was a man of strong faith. He knew who his maker was and was always very thankful and gracious for what the Lord provided. His family meant the world to him. To spend time with them was without a doubt, at the top of his ‘favorite things to do’ list. Jim was quite proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He and Norma were long-term members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Lake View where Jim served as President of the church council.
Jim leaves his earthly life having set an amazing example of what it means to be a conscious conservationist. We can all be caretakers of our environment and the wildlife that lives in it. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
Jim is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Norma Wallace of Lake View, IA; children: Geoffrey (Donna) Wallace of Sulphur Springs, TX, Craig (Jackie) Wallace of Lake View, IA, and Tim Wallace of Richfield, UT; grandchildren: Andrew (Laura) Wallace of Dallas, TX, Ashleigh (Eric) Lacey of St. Charles, MO, Jim (Chloe) Wallace of Lake View, IA, Ben (Melissa) Wallace of Lake View, IA, Alexa (Cassidy) Schear of Richfield, UT, and Madisen Wallace of Richfield, UT; great-grandchildren: Margaret Wallace, Olive and Willow Wallace, Grace and Claire Wallace, Radisen, Tayven, Kaysen, and Ridge Schear; brother-in-law Roger Flint of Cedar Rapids, IA; sister-in-law Jerry Goslar of Infield, NH; many other extended family members and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother, LaVerne and Lucena Wallace; stepmother Gladys Wallace; brothers-in-law Wilfred (Marlene) Goslar and Eldon (Marjorie) Goslar; and sisters-in-law Helen (Kenneth) Torgeson, and Edna Mae (Charles) Schultz.
Memorials may be directed to Black Hawk Lake Preservation Association and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Jim's Memory.
