James Acklin, 82

James Sam Acklin, 82, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at his home in Dover, Idaho.

Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2025, at New Fire Ministries, 642 Triangle Drive, Unit D, Ponderay, Idaho. Military honors and burial will take place at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colo.

Jim was born Jan. 30, 1943, in San Francisco, Calif., to James and Helen Acklin. He grew up and attended schools in the Sacramento area and graduated from Oroville Union High School in 1962.

Jim joined the United States Navy and served in Vietnam. He then worked at Western Union in communications. He married Joanne Brusburg and they had a son before divorcing. 

He married Joyce Graham on April 3, 1978, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and they made their home in Kent, Wash., and he continued in the communication industry. They spent 20 years in Castle Rock, Colo., before moving to Dover in 2019.

Jim is a member of New Fire Ministries. He enjoyed playing music, collecting hats, and he adored his family.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Acklin of Dover; two sons, James (Danette) Acklin of Buckley, Wash., and Pas. Scott (Abigail) Acklin of Dover; two daughters, Melissa (Jason) Kubica of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Dr. Marcee (Clay) Sutton of Denver, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Maylo Sauter of Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Pam Acklin.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Jim’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.