Obituary of Jim L. Kirtland

Jimmie Louis “Jim” Kirtland, 76, Twin Falls, Idaho, passed away June 18, 2015 surrounded by family and friends. He was born Feb. 5, 1939 in Rio Tinto, Nev., a booming copper mining town about three miles from Mountain City, Nev. Parents, Stan and Opal Kirtland moved to Hagerman, Idaho two years later where Jim spent the rest of his childhood. He spent most of those years living at the National Fish Hatchery, which was a boys paradise, with swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, and rock climbing. When he graduated in 1957, Jim moved to Halfway, Ore., and lived with his aunt Lucille and Uncle James Ruddles and went to work for Morrison Knudsen on the Brownlee and Oxbow Dams. In November of 1957 Jim married his high school sweetheart, Mary Arlene Brown and they moved to Oxbow, Ore. They had four children, Terri, Ron, John and Donny. In 1959 Jim was transferred into power plants at Swan Falls on the Snake River, about 20 miles from Kuna, Idaho. Three years after that the family moved to Blackfoot, Idaho where they spent 11 years. Jim wore many hats while there with Idaho Power Company including meter reader, bill collector, warehouseman, lineman and service department. In 1973 Jim and family moved to Fairfield, Idaho. Jim was the local representative for Idaho Power. Besides all the rep duties in Fairfield, Jim went to Gooding and Wood River Valley a couple of days each week doing trouble shooting and maintenance work. Everyone fell in love with Fairfield. The family was involved with snow skiing, snow mobiling, camping, fishing, motorcycling and horseshoe pitching. Jim was the Idaho State B class horseshoe pitching champion in 1980. He traveled to many tournaments in Idaho and a couple in Oregon. In 1980, Jim, Mary and Donny moved to Gooding where he would spend the next 13 years as District Manager of Gooding, Wendell and Fairfield. He was very active in civic and service organizations, being Chamber of Commerce president as well as Rotary president. Jim and Mary divorced in 1993 and Jim transferred to the engineering dept. in Boise, retiring with 35 years with Idaho Power and turning 55 years old. Jim married Jane Nouise in 1994. She passed away Sept. 13, 2014. Jim went to Real Estate School in Boise shortly after retiring from Idaho Power and spent the next 16 years selling real estate in Southern Idaho. He and Jane spent time every winter in their condos in Mazatlan and Peurto Vallarta, Mexico. They enjoyed bowling and golfing in Gooding for several years. Jim was known for his beef, elk and deer jerky which he and Jane made quite often for their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and real estate clients and friends. Dad always enjoyed deer and elk hunting with family and friends. He and Jane always raised gardens and Jim would plant and water and Jane would can the corn, beets, tomatoes and green beans. They both enjoyed the family reunions and watching the grandchildren growing up. Dad was known for his great sense of humor and joke telling. He could find something funny in just about everything and was always ready with a one liner or wise crack. He was Master of Ceremonies for quite a few social events and banquets in Gooding where he was able to display his humor. Dad was in the Idaho National Guard and Army Reserves. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hailey, the American Legion in Fairfield and served a term as Fairfield city councilman. In Twin Falls, Dad was a member of the YMCA, water aerobics class, the “over 50 fitness center,” the Moose Lodge (Golden Gamers) Texas Hold-em Club, and the MVATV 4 wheeler Riders Club. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stan and Opal Kirtland, and sister Betty. He is survived by his four children: Terri (Larry) Ivie, Priest River, Idaho, Ron (Sherri) Kirtland, Twin Falls, John Kirtland, Boise, and Donny (Jill) Kirtland, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 11 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and his two precious dogs, Oscar and Charlie. He is also survived by one sister, Jean (Don) Brown of Garden Valley, Idaho, nieces, and lots of good friends. There will be no service per his request. A graveside at Hagerman Cemetery will be held at a later date. Rosenau Funeral Home & Crematory in Twin Falls is in charge of arrangements.