Dr. James J. Runnalls
Jim Runnalls died Thursday, July 20, 2006, at his home in Sagle, Idaho. "Doc," as he was known to his students, taught industrial education for 27 years at the University of Wisconsin-Stout before retiring to Idaho.
A private memorial service will be held commemorating Jim's life.
He was a big man with a big heart. A friend, he always said, was someone he hadn't met yet. He couldn't resist swapping stories with strangers, and delighted in finding a common thread.
In his final years, Jim did what he loved most. He spent hours in his "wood shop," building furniture for his family. He said it kept him alive. He spent his last day installing garden gates he had made for his wife, Annette.
James Jene Runnalls was born June 2, 1927, in Rawlins, Wyo., 35 minutes before his twin brother Bill, to Swedish immigrants Olga Hagman Vickman and John Albert Vickman. His mother died several days later from childbirth complications. The twins were then adopted by Alfred and Willa Runnalls. They grew up in Greybull, Wyo.
After high school graduation Jim served in the Army during World War II and then enrolled at the University of Wyoming. He returned to service briefly during the Korean War before he graduated with his bachelor's degree.
He was married May 24, 1952, to Nelva Earline Gross, a fellow school teacher in Blue Hill, Neb. They pursued education together as they raised a family in Port Huron, Mich.; Mankato, Minn.; Columbia, Mo.; and Menomonee, Wis. Jim received his master's degree in 1956 from Colorado State University and his doctorate from the University of Missouri in 1965. After they received their doctorates the couple accepted teaching positions at Stout, where they remained for the rest of their careers.
Nelva Runnalls died in 1989
Jim married Annette J. Fraser in 1990. They moved to Idaho in 1994 after Annette retired from her teaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. There they built their dream home with a view of the mountains they loved.
Jim is survived by his wife Annette Fraser-Runnalls of Sagle; daughter Andrea Nemitz of Buxton, Maine; son Christopher Runnalls of Germantown, Wis.; grandchildren Gillian and Nathanial Philbrick of Maine and Keelan and Kirsten Runnalls of Germantown; his sister Lillian Davis of Spokane Valley, Wash.; and Annette's children John, Douglas, Cameron, Andrew, Alex and Mary Fraser and their respective children Alex and Bailey; Megan, Elizabeth, Scott and Shannon; Jenna Rae and Garrett; Clara Fraser and Alex Liddiard.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint, Idaho, is handling local arrangements. Please visit Jim's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.