Obit: Gearing, James F. ‘Jim’ (1932 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gearing, Gjerseth, Bakke, Klieforth, Bakken

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/15/2013

Gearing, James F. ‘Jim’ (18 September 1932 - 11 May 2013) With Flag

James F. “Jim” Gearing, 80, of Merrillan died while under the care of Black River Memorial Hospice Saturday, May 11, 2013, in his home in Hatfield.

Jim was born Sept. 18, 1932, in the Wrightsville area of Jackson County to Floyd W. and Ruth (Gjerseth) Gearing. He was raised in Alma Center and graduated from Alma Center Lincoln High School. He served in the U. S. Air Force from 1952-1956. While in the Air Force, he attended airplane and helicopter mechanic schools.

He married Patricia Bakke June 15, 1957, in Alma Center. The couple lived in Alma Center and Black River Falls before moving to Hatfield. The last years they have wintered in Phoenix, AZ. Jim was a hydro plant operator for Northern States Power Company in Hatfield for 31 years. He retired in 1992.

He loved to hunt, go camping, garden and spend time at his tree farm in the Town of Garden Valley (Jackson County) and socialize.

Surviving are his wife, Patricia; one son, David (Amy) Gearing, Victoria, MN; and one daughter, Ann (Jeff) Gearing-Klieforth, Neillsville; four grandchildren, Justin and Tara Gearing, and Brett and Kyle Klieforth; numerous nieces and nephews, and a huge circle of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Phil, Gordon, and Sydney Gearing; and three sisters, Virginia, Margaret, and Betty.

Memorial funeral services with military honors will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, at the Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church. Services will be conducted by Pastor Eric Bakken, and burial will be at a later date at the East Garden Valley Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the church Monday, May 20, 2013, from 9 a.m. until the time of services.

Memorials may be given to either the Black River Memorial Hospice or to the Leukemia Foundation.

Torgerson’s Funeral Home (715-284-4321) of Black River Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.