James Junior Achenbaugh
courtesy photo
James Achenbaugh
POLSON — James Junior Achenbaugh, age 96, passed away in his sleep on March 23, 2015, at Polson Care and Rehabilitation Center.
James was born on Aug. 15, 1918, in Shenandoah, Iowa, to James Henry Achenbaugh and Margaret Mildred Johnson.
Jim was raised with a half-brother, Millard James Maxted, a half-sister Edna Jewel De Camp (Ruff) and sister Wanda Elaine Munger and brother Wayne Porter Achenbaugh, in Iowa until about 1927 when they moved to Corning, California. During his younger years he lived in Corning, Gerber and Westwood, California.
Jim joined the Army Oct. 10, 1942. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal on Oct. 23,1945; the Good Conduct Medal; the Asiatic Medal; the Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star; the American Campaign Medal; the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star and the American Defense Service Medal.
While in the service, Jim met and married Pansy Pauline Owens Knox on May 21,1942. They had no children but Jim helped raise Pansy’s two very young children, Shirley Rose and Billy Dale Knox.
As a young man, for a short time, Jim learned the bartending trade. Later he learned the meat trade and became a meat cutter. He hauled cattle and horses for a while and then went to work for Red River Lumber Co. in Westwood, California. The family left Westwood and moved to Sacramento, California, around 1950. In 1952, Jim hired on at McClellan AFB in Sacramento where he worked in Civil Engineering in the Base Housing area, working his way up the ladder to Foreman. He retired in 1972, when he and his wife Pansy, moved to Polson, Montana.
Jim and Pansy were encouraged to move to Montana by some wonderful friends, Alice and Orson Delay, whom they had met while Jim and Pansy were working at McClellan AFB.
In Montana, Jim learned carpentry and electrical and plumbing skills while working with Orson Delay of Polson, building houses and later used these skills working on some jobs in a few of the buildings in town. Jim’s last job was with Davis Hardware, where he worked for many years before retiring.
Jim was an avid hunter most all of his life. He hunted many areas in California, Utah and Montana, hunting birds, deer, elk and moose; many times with Pansy at his side.
Jim joined the Masons, Harding San Juan Lodge 579 in Citrus Heights, California, on Sept. 27, 1959. After moving to Polson he joined Mission Valley Lodge 78 in 1994 and became a lifetime paid member, that year.
Jim and Pansy were always supportive of their church, Polson Community, and were always there to lend a helping hand to those in need with food or to just visit many of those needing comfort and companionship during troubling times.
Jim is survived by his daughter-in-law Ellen Achenbaugh of Polson; grandson Brian (Debbie) of Spokane, Washington; granddaughters, Kathy Williams and Connie Myers of Colorado, and Paula Fraser of California; and many great-grandchildren living in Colorado and Washington; nieces: Sonja Munger of California; Mildred (Ellwood) Voelker of Oregon; Mary (Paul) Hayes of Montana; Evelyn (Larry) Maust, Billie Jean (Frank) Schwartz and nephews Allen (Judy) Ruff, Sam (Diane) Ruff, and Buck (Marie) Barba,c all of California.
Jim was a friend to many and will be missed by those friends and family who all loved him.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Jim’s final resting place will be in Tehama County Cemetery, California, where most all of his family members are buried.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory. Messages of condolence may be shared with the family at: www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
