James F. Eichler passed away peacefully at the Fort Harrison VA Hospital on the evening of January 3, 2015. Jim was the only child born to Chauncey Harold "Ike" Eichler and Edith Maud (Bemis) Eichler on July 20, 1923 in Yorba Linda, California.
Following graduation from Fullerton High School, he attended one year at Fullerton College and he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1942. He served as a Motor Machinist's Mate in the engine room of the USS Harris and was later assigned to a landing craft during the battle of Tarawa. He and his crew escaped the craft before it was blown up by the Japanese. They were stranded on the coral overnight, made their way to a beach with U. S. Marines and were rescued a month later and reunited with his ship.
After his discharge from the Navy, he married Dorthy Carol Bailey (1923 - 1977) and they had four children. They later divorced and Jim married and became step-father to her 4 children.
Jim always wanted to move to Montana and he bought a sporting goods store in Red Lodge in 1960. He later became deputy sheriff and was elected to four terms as Sheriff of Carbon County where retired in 1982. Jim and [his wife] moved back to Yorba Linda to care for Jim's mother. They spent the summers in Montana and the winters in California and eventually moved back to Montana in 1998. Jim loved to travel and especially enjoyed travel on cruise ships. Some of Jim's and [his wife]'s favorite trips included Costa Rica, Panama Canal, and Argentina. Jim was also an avid fisherman. He fished in Cabo San Lucas every year with his good buddies and the last fishing trip they made together was to Alaska by bush plane when Jim was in his 80's. In his last few years, Jim and [his wife] spent the winters in Sun City West, AZ and he enjoyed watching and feeding the quail, rabbits, and other wildlife in their yard. Jim was loved by everyone he met and had many good friends. He enjoyed life and will be missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, step-son, 3 step-daughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sons, Willard Dean Eichler (1951-2005) and Michael Keith Eichler (1954-1999). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
We would like to thank the employees of the VA Hosiptal for the exceptional care and treatment Jim received during his illness and the employees of Homelink of St. Peter's for hospice service. We also want to give a special thank you to our sister and Jim's step-daughter Donna for caring for him the last years of his life.
A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.
SOURCE:
January 18, 2015 | Independent Record (Helena, MT)
Jennifer Morrison - Genealogist
Following graduation from Fullerton High School, he attended one year at Fullerton College and he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1942. He served as a Motor Machinist's Mate in the engine room of the USS Harris and was later assigned to a landing craft during the battle of Tarawa. He and his crew escaped the craft before it was blown up by the Japanese. They were stranded on the coral overnight, made their way to a beach with U. S. Marines and were rescued a month later and reunited with his ship.
After his discharge from the Navy, he married Dorthy Carol Bailey (1923 - 1977) and they had four children. They later divorced and Jim married and became step-father to her 4 children.
Jim always wanted to move to Montana and he bought a sporting goods store in Red Lodge in 1960. He later became deputy sheriff and was elected to four terms as Sheriff of Carbon County where retired in 1982. Jim and [his wife] moved back to Yorba Linda to care for Jim's mother. They spent the summers in Montana and the winters in California and eventually moved back to Montana in 1998. Jim loved to travel and especially enjoyed travel on cruise ships. Some of Jim's and [his wife]'s favorite trips included Costa Rica, Panama Canal, and Argentina. Jim was also an avid fisherman. He fished in Cabo San Lucas every year with his good buddies and the last fishing trip they made together was to Alaska by bush plane when Jim was in his 80's. In his last few years, Jim and [his wife] spent the winters in Sun City West, AZ and he enjoyed watching and feeding the quail, rabbits, and other wildlife in their yard. Jim was loved by everyone he met and had many good friends. He enjoyed life and will be missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, step-son, 3 step-daughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sons, Willard Dean Eichler (1951-2005) and Michael Keith Eichler (1954-1999). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
We would like to thank the employees of the VA Hosiptal for the exceptional care and treatment Jim received during his illness and the employees of Homelink of St. Peter's for hospice service. We also want to give a special thank you to our sister and Jim's step-daughter Donna for caring for him the last years of his life.
A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.
SOURCE:
January 18, 2015 | Independent Record (Helena, MT)
Jennifer Morrison - Genealogist
James F. Eichler passed away peacefully at the Fort Harrison VA Hospital on the evening of January 3, 2015. Jim was the only child born to Chauncey Harold "Ike" Eichler and Edith Maud (Bemis) Eichler on July 20, 1923 in Yorba Linda, California.
Following graduation from Fullerton High School, he attended one year at Fullerton College and he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1942. He served as a Motor Machinist's Mate in the engine room of the USS Harris and was later assigned to a landing craft during the battle of Tarawa. He and his crew escaped the craft before it was blown up by the Japanese. They were stranded on the coral overnight, made their way to a beach with U. S. Marines and were rescued a month later and reunited with his ship.
After his discharge from the Navy, he married Dorthy Carol Bailey (1923 - 1977) and they had four children. They later divorced and Jim married and became step-father to her 4 children.
Jim always wanted to move to Montana and he bought a sporting goods store in Red Lodge in 1960. He later became deputy sheriff and was elected to four terms as Sheriff of Carbon County where retired in 1982. Jim and [his wife] moved back to Yorba Linda to care for Jim's mother. They spent the summers in Montana and the winters in California and eventually moved back to Montana in 1998. Jim loved to travel and especially enjoyed travel on cruise ships. Some of Jim's and [his wife]'s favorite trips included Costa Rica, Panama Canal, and Argentina. Jim was also an avid fisherman. He fished in Cabo San Lucas every year with his good buddies and the last fishing trip they made together was to Alaska by bush plane when Jim was in his 80's. In his last few years, Jim and [his wife] spent the winters in Sun City West, AZ and he enjoyed watching and feeding the quail, rabbits, and other wildlife in their yard. Jim was loved by everyone he met and had many good friends. He enjoyed life and will be missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, step-son, 3 step-daughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sons, Willard Dean Eichler (1951-2005) and Michael Keith Eichler (1954-1999). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
We would like to thank the employees of the VA Hosiptal for the exceptional care and treatment Jim received during his illness and the employees of Homelink of St. Peter's for hospice service. We also want to give a special thank you to our sister and Jim's step-daughter Donna for caring for him the last years of his life.
A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.
SOURCE:
January 18, 2015 | Independent Record (Helena, MT)
Jennifer Morrison - Genealogist
Following graduation from Fullerton High School, he attended one year at Fullerton College and he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1942. He served as a Motor Machinist's Mate in the engine room of the USS Harris and was later assigned to a landing craft during the battle of Tarawa. He and his crew escaped the craft before it was blown up by the Japanese. They were stranded on the coral overnight, made their way to a beach with U. S. Marines and were rescued a month later and reunited with his ship.
After his discharge from the Navy, he married Dorthy Carol Bailey (1923 - 1977) and they had four children. They later divorced and Jim married and became step-father to her 4 children.
Jim always wanted to move to Montana and he bought a sporting goods store in Red Lodge in 1960. He later became deputy sheriff and was elected to four terms as Sheriff of Carbon County where retired in 1982. Jim and [his wife] moved back to Yorba Linda to care for Jim's mother. They spent the summers in Montana and the winters in California and eventually moved back to Montana in 1998. Jim loved to travel and especially enjoyed travel on cruise ships. Some of Jim's and [his wife]'s favorite trips included Costa Rica, Panama Canal, and Argentina. Jim was also an avid fisherman. He fished in Cabo San Lucas every year with his good buddies and the last fishing trip they made together was to Alaska by bush plane when Jim was in his 80's. In his last few years, Jim and [his wife] spent the winters in Sun City West, AZ and he enjoyed watching and feeding the quail, rabbits, and other wildlife in their yard. Jim was loved by everyone he met and had many good friends. He enjoyed life and will be missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, step-son, 3 step-daughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sons, Willard Dean Eichler (1951-2005) and Michael Keith Eichler (1954-1999). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
We would like to thank the employees of the VA Hosiptal for the exceptional care and treatment Jim received during his illness and the employees of Homelink of St. Peter's for hospice service. We also want to give a special thank you to our sister and Jim's step-daughter Donna for caring for him the last years of his life.
A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.
SOURCE:
January 18, 2015 | Independent Record (Helena, MT)
Jennifer Morrison - Genealogist
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