James L. Ward, Jr.

James Leslie Ward, Jr. passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Good Samaritan Village, in Moscow, Idaho. He had been diagnosed with a inoperable spinal tumor three months earlier. He was 91 years old.

Jim, or “Les” (as he was known by many in his family) arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, on November 7, 1923. His parents, James Leslie, Sr. and Cora Lena Ward, welcomed him as their youngest child joining another brother, Ralph, and two sisters, Hazel and Neva.

During his early years, you could find Les outside building a kayak, adventuring on their acreage, and getting his Soapbox Derby car ready to win. Big family gatherings were always a must at their house on Sunday after services at Staves United Brethren Evangelical Church (now Staves Memorial United Methodist ), with his mother’s delicious chicken, fresh vegetables, pies, and his father’s melt-in-your-mouth bread! Since he was a little boy, Les was fascinated with aviation, following its historical progress eagerly. He also excelled at his pastimes of drawing, singing, studying history, and crafting in wood.

His education included graduating from Adams Elementary and East High Schools in Des Moines. Les attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota for a year. He finished his college years at Drake University in 1949, earning a Bachelor of Commercial Science degree.

He joined the United States Marine Corps in January, 1943, and was honorably discharged in March, 1946. His service as a Radio Operator in the Pacific Theater of World War II brought him the rank of Corporal. He served with the Third Amphibious Signal Battalion USMC. Their unit received an Outstanding and Meritorious Honor from the Navy for their performance in operations against the enemy on the islands of Guam, Palau, and Okinawa. After the war ended in 1945, he was sent to Tensen, China, to finish his enlistment until 1946.

Upon returning to Iowa after the war, one sparkling spring night Jim found himself with friends at a dance in Des Moines. It was there that he met the love of his life, Doris Norma Jean Simonson. They were married in her hometown of Stratford, Iowa, on a rainy June 1, 1947. They settled in Des Moines where he attended Drake University. He became a very proud father of his first-born son, James Leslie Ward, III, in 1948. By 1952, he and Doris welcomed their daughter, Denise K Ward, into their family. By this time, Jim had succeeded in his job as an insurance salesman.

Jim and Doris moved their family in 1958 to Southern California. They made their home in South Pasadena. He established himself in a fulfilling, outstanding career as a Furniture Manufacturer’s Representative for high quality factories: Knob Creek, Pine Shops, and Hekman. Their 32 years in California brought them many happy memories with dear friends and Iowa family visiting, Disneyland excursions, beach days, camping trips, tennis, golf, and watching their children grow up. While son, Jim, was in the Navy, during Denise’s senior year 1969-1970, Jim and Doris welcomed their other “daughter”, Kay Stringleman, a foreign exchange student from Timaru, New Zealand, into their home, enjoying many wonderful times together as a family. They treasured their ties as active members of Oneonta Congregational Church from 1960-1992. Jim sang in the choir and performed many solos as the accomplished tenor that he was.

While living in California, Jim and Doris were able to build, with son Jim, a two-story beautiful adobe home on their 23 acres in Paso Robles. So many magical memories were made at the ranch during the holidays! During this time also, he and Jim III created a wood furniture and accessories manufacturing business, Wales, Inc. They designed and built many beautiful pieces. Another dream was realized when he earned his private pilot’s license, and purchased a plane, a Cessna 172! He and Doris enjoyed many flights, including visits to Idaho and Colorado.

Of the many other trips they took around the country, Jim and Doris were able to travel to New Zealand to stay with wonderful friends, the Stringlemans. They counted this as a truly special time to stay with Kay and Maurice, and her parents, Brian and Pearl.

His retirement from the furniture business brought them to move to Sun City West, Arizona. They enjoyed their time swimming, golfing, reading, and entertaining family and friends. They joined Desert Garden Congregational Church from 1992-2012, where again he participated on committees and sang in the choir. By this time, Jim was able to devote much of his energy to painting water colors and later, oils. His favorite subjects were California and Southwest missions, as well as other buildings. He sold over 200 paintings. He was especially proud of his one-man art shows held at Amanda’s Interiors for a several years in Arroyo Grande, California. His family greatly treasures their art pieces from him.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Hazel. He is survived by: his loving wife, Doris of Moscow, Idaho; his two children, Jim and fiancé Carol Ersbak of Moscow, Idaho and Pahoa, Hawaii, and Denise and Pete Amell of Troy, Idaho, and Kay Stringleman and Maurice Teem of Christchurch, New Zealand; his six grandchildren – Laurel Beth and Corey Emory of San Luis Obispo, California, James L. IV and Jenny Ward of Crested Butte, Colorado, Dustin and Ashley Ward of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Loni Ward of Austin, Texas; Emily Evans and Trevor Scheidl of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Ellen Evans and fiancé Rob Welsh of San Francisco, California. Also, his four great grandchildren: Eve and Olive Ward of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and, Maxwell and Alexander James Scheidl (his namesake, born June 8, 2015) of Vancouver, British Columbia.

His family wishes to express our profound gratitude to the excellent staff at Good Samaritan Village in Moscow, Idaho, and to the outstanding staff of Gentiva Hospice of Pullman, Washington. All of their extraordinary, amazing, and compassionate care made all the difference to Jim and his loved ones in his final months. He and Doris were so fortunate to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary on June 1, 2015!

James Leslie Ward, Jr. will always be remembered as the kind, humorous, forever a gentleman, intelligent, and tremendously talented artist and musician that he was . His family and friends are cordially invited to attend Jim’s funeral service at Staves Memorial Methodist Church in Des Moines at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 26. A gravesite internment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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