Howard James Moldenhauer

OUR BELOVED DADDY, GRANDPA,  PAPA, GREAT GRANDPA, GREAT- GREAT GRANDPA  PASSD AWAY AT HIS HOME ON SATURDAY MAY 26, 2012, AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 84.

HE WAS BORN DECEMBER 10, 1927 TO LEWIS GUSTAVE MOLDENHAUER AND MONA EMILY MORRISON IN GLENS FERRY, IDAHO.   HE WAS THE 6TH CHILD OF 8 CHILDREN.  AT THE AGE OF 4 HIS FAMILY MOVED TO MONTPELIER, IDAHO. WHERE HE SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD AND ATTENDED SCHOOLS.   HE WORKED AS A BREAKMAN ON THE RAILROAD. IN JULY  OF 1945 THE FAMILY MOVED TO POCATELLO, FOLOWING IN HIS 4 BROTHERS FOOTSTEPS HE ENLISTED IN  THE SERVICE, THE NAVY, WHERE HE SPENT THE NEXT 2 1/2 YEARS. HE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER IN APRIL OF 1947.   HIS MOTHER SET FORTH TO BRING HIM HOME CONTACTING THE GOVERNOR OF IDAHO TO HELP HER SINCE 5 OF HER SONS WERE SERVING AND SHE NEEDED HIS HELP TO RAISE HIS REMAINING 3 SIBLINGS.  ON HIS DISCHARGE ON JAN 8, 1948 HE RETURNED TO WORK AS A BREAKMAN IN POCATELLO AND IN APRIL OF 1948 HE WENT TO WORK AS A PARTSMAN IN A LOCAL GARAGE.

ON JUNE 8TH, 1948 HE MARRIED LUDEAN GIBBS IN SWAN LAKE IDAHO. TO THE MARRIAGE THEY HAD ONE DAUGHTER HELEN.  IN THE FALL OF 1950 HIS WIFE LUDEAN BECAME ILL, PASSING AWAY IN NOV 1950.  HIS MOTHER TOOK TO HELPING HIM RAISE HIMSELF AND HIS DAUGHTER.

IN MARCH 1, 1952 HE JOINED THE POCATELLO POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING UP THE RANKS RETIRING AFTER 25 YEARS, ON MARCH 1, 1977 AS A LIEUTENANT.  EVERYONE ALWAYS SAID HE WAS A VERY FAIR AND DECENT POLICE OFFICER, NEVER A COP.

ON AUGUST 14TH 1952 HE MARRIED NELLIE MARY MARAFFIO  AS SHE GRADUATED FROM SAINT ANTHONY MERCY HOSPITAL NURSING SCHOOL.  FROM THIS MARRIAGE 3 CHILDREN WERE BORN,  CARMA DEANETTE, ARTHUR JAMES, AND RICHARD LLOYD.

HE LOST HIS MOTHER IN 1963 TO STROKE AND A BRAIN TUMOR.

AFTER RETIRING FROM THE POLICE FORCE HE STARTED THE FIRST ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT AND WAS THE DIRECTOR FOR 7 YEARS.

DURING THE NEXT PART OF HIS LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT HE AND NELLIE TRAVELED A LOT ENJOYING ISLAND PARK WHERE THEY BUILT A CABIN, TRAVELED TO EUROPE VISITING NELLIES FAMILY IN ITALY, VISITING SON IN CHICAGO,  SPENDING WINTERS IN ARIZONA WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY BEING “SNOW BIRDS”.  AND ALWAYS ENJOYING THEIR CHILDREN, GRAND CHILDREN, AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN  AS THEIR HEALTH STARTED TO DECLINE THEY SETTLED BACK IN THEIR HOME IN POCATELLO.

NELLIE DIED  AUGUST 16TH 2001 FOLLOWING THEIR 49TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.  ALSO LOSING BOTH SONS, ART MAY 26,1994 AND DICK JUNE 17, 2006.

JIM WAS A MEMBER OF BPOE, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, AND THE FOP. HE ENJOYED FISHING, HUNTING, BOWLING, AND GOLFING, RIDING  HIS ATV VISITING FRIENDS IN ISLAND PARK. HE ENJOYED SPENDING TIME RANCHING ON HIS PROPERTY IN BLACK ROCK, RAISING COWS AND HORSES, AND THE FAMILY RANCH IN CLAYTON.

BUT MOST OF ALL HE LOVED HIS FAMILY.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS DAUGHTERS HELEN CHAMPION, WOODLAND WASHINGTON AND CARMA [BOB] DAULTON, POCATELLO ID.   23 GRANDCHILDREN,  29 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND 3 GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND MANY NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

HE WAS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY HIS LOVING WIVES LUDEAN AND NELLIE, HIS SONS, ART AND DICK, AND HIS SON-IN-LAW BILL BERRY. MOTHER, FATHER, AND ALL OF HIS BROTHERS LOU, ART, LLOYD, BOB, AND ERNIE AND HIS SISTERS BERTIE AND FLORENCE.

THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR MANY THANKS TO THE STAFF OF IDAHO WOUND CARE AND HYPERBARICS, MAAGS, PRT, PMC, CREEKSIDE, CAREGIVE AND FRIEND DAMON WILLSON, AND ALL OF HIS WONDERFUL DRS. AND NURSES.

VIEWING WILL BE AT COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 FROM 6PM TO 8PM AND FUNERAL MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED WITH FATHER JOHN OFFICIATING AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH THURSDAY MAY 31, 2012 AT 11AM.  BURIAL TO FOLLOW AT MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY.

 

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4 Comments

  1. Carrol Horne

    I just want to say I am so sorry to read of Jims passing. He was awesome. I was one of the first Female Animal Control officers when he started the training for us back in the early 80′s. I worked in the Animal Shelter with him and he was absolutely a fair man. God must have needed him back home. ((HUGS)) and thoughts along with prayers to the family and friends of this wonderful Man…

  2. Dave and Sue Jeffries

    We are so sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather. If we can do anything to help please let us know.
    Dave & Sue

  3. Debbie Massey

    I was so sorry to hear about you Father passing away. I know that this is very hard. I am sorry that I cannot make it to the services. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and that I will always be here for you.

    Debbie

  4. connie carter

    Helen & family
    So sorry for your loss,he sounds like an incredible man. I just found out that he had passed away. You are in my prayers
    Love Always
    Connie Carter

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