James ''Jim'' Leo Fitzsimons
June 28, 1925 - August 9, 2004
Obituary
James Leo Fitzsimons
James Jim Fitzsimons, age 79, passed away suddenly on Monday, August 9, 2004 in a local area hospital. Funeral services for Jim will be held at St. Philomena’s Catholic Church in Des Moines, 1790 S 222nd St., on Wednesday, August 18 @ 9am, visitation at 8am, reception following. Interment will be at 1:00pm at Tahoma National Veterans Cemetery in Kent.
Jim was born in Greeley, Nebraska on June 28, 1925 to Elzie & Elizabeth Harris Fitzsimons. He lived in Greeley until the age of 10, when in 1935, his family moved to New Plymouth, Idaho. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army and served three years during WWII in the Philippines on the islands of Leyte, Mindoro and Luzon.
After the war he returned to New Plymouth and began construction work with Selmer Ness in the Payette, Idaho area, learning to operate a crane. In 1949 Jim became a full-fledged Operating Engineer and a member of the IUOE union. He also belonged to Local Union 302.
On June 5, 1949 he married Eula Wisner in New Plymouth, Idaho. In 1951 they moved to Washington State. They had three children, son Kim, daughter Juli and son Kris. Jim later retired from Ness Crane, and loved spending his time camping, playing with his grandchildren, and building and flying radio control model airplanes. He was a member of the Boeing Hawks and other RC clubs for many years. He also owned and operated his own private airplanes.
Jim was the ultimate Mr. Fix-It. If you had something that was broken, he’d make sure you were taken care of. He was also the world’s best grandpa and a child at heart. If it was a puzzle to put together he was there, playing a board game, he was there, a long walk to talk about bugs, flowers and animals along the way, he was there. He was a good husband, a wonderful father and grandfather.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother, father and one brother, Robert Fitzsimons. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eula Fitzsimons, son Kim Fitzsimons, daughter Juli Stuart Henderson, son Kris Traci Fitzsimons, and grandchildren Kelsey, Lindsey & Megan Henderson and Angela & Kristen Fitzsimons. Also surviving are brother Jerome Fitzsimons of Boise, Idaho, brother Charles Fitzsimons of New Plymouth, Idaho, and sister Jeanette Lawrence Larsen of Fruitland, Idaho and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd. SeaTac 206 242-1787. Please sign the online register book at bonneywatson.com.
It’s great weather, time to fly!
We will forever love and miss you. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, and for being the best grandfather any child could hope to have.