James "Jim" G. Heagney, 81

James "Jim" G. Heagney was born March 12, 1932, to parents James and Lydia, who, along with his sister Mary, lived in Milwaukee, Wis. Being from Milwaukee started his lifelong obsession and dedication to the Green Bay Packers. He was an avid train enthusiast which began at an early age working as a laborer for the Milwaukee Railroad, where his father had a life long career culminating as a Conductor.

At 19, Jim joined the Marines and became an aircraft electrician. In 1953, he was assigned to VMF 235 (fixed wing Marine fighter squadron) at Marine Corps Base, El Toro near Santa Ana, Calif. The squadron flew F9F Panther aircraft, training pilots for carrier landings. In a subsequent assignment, he served on Embassy duty, in Tehran, Iran, in December 1953; ending his military career in February 1956, in Minneapolis, Minn.

Jim spent most of his civilian career as a purchasing agent in Southern California, moving to Idaho in 2001. In 1983, he married Joan Browning in California.

Jim was an active member of the Marine Corps League for many years; participating in parades, civic projects, with Toys for Tots as a primary passion. The Marines became his family - as his buddies, friends and ‘usual suspects.’ He was at home with his Marine brothers, because they exemplified the traits that Jim possessed his entire life: Respect, honor, responsibility, courage, commitment and caring for his community.

Jim was also an active member of Christ the King Lutheran Church through Choir and Military Ministry, and he developed many loving friends, including his best friend and Sunday breakfast buddy, Dave Coppum. Music was a lifetime passion, having grown up with his mother, a pianist trained at Juilliard.

It was there at church that Jim met Gloria Anderson; they were married in December 2013. They promised to make every day special and count for the Lord.

Jim passed away unexpectedly, however peacefully, in his sleep on February 13, 2014.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Gloria Anderson-Heagney; Joan’s daughter, Karen, and seven grandchildren; Gloria’s four children, and five grandchildren; and countless friends that all cared deeply for Jim, and will miss him very much. He was preceded in death by Joan, Kenneth and Brian.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Jim’s memory to the Marine’s Toys for Tots program. There will be donation boxes at the church for new, unwrapped toys, or monetary donations, which will be held for the 2014 Toys for Tots program.

The memorial service for Jim will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 21, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene. Please sign Jim’s online guest book, and share your memories with the family at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.