James Richard Halvorsen

James Richard Halvorsen was born on August 14, 1944 in Gary, Indiana. He was born to Philip and Ruth Halvorsen, joining his 14 year old brother Robert and 4 year old sister Sharon. He spent his early years in Omaha, Nebraska. The year he turned 10, he spent the summer on his uncle’s farm in Iowa; on that farm, he met someone who would become the most important person in his life–9 year old Judy Ann Riles. Jim’s family moved to Eagle Grove, Iowa; his father was the pastor of the local church, where Judy and her family attended. Jim spent his upper elementary, middle school, high school and early college years in Eagle Grove. He played football, basketball, and wrestled, was in the chorus and band, and was honored as a “Future Business Leader of America.” Jim’s first entrepreneurial enterprises included a paper route, a lawn mowing business, and farm projects. He held a variety of jobs, and started building a house for his parents the summer of his senior year; alongside his summer farm work, these were the most formative experiences of his young life. Jim and Judy began seriously dating after their graduation from high school at 16 and 17, in 1962. On Judy’s 18th birthday, the two got engaged; they married later that year on December 22, 1963 and have been inseparable ever since. That following July, Jim and Judy moved to Ohio to attend Cedarville College and Wilberforce University. 1966 saw Jim graduate from college and they rejoiced in the start of their family with the birth of their first child, Jacqueline Lorene. The family then moved back to Clarion, Iowa, Judy’s hometown, where Jim began a high school teaching career and a Master’s Degree program at Iowa State University. They spent two years in Goldfield, Iowa, where their second daughter, Jennifer Ann was born in 1967. During these early years with their two young girls, Judy got very sick and almost died several times. This experience impacted them significantly and taught them early on what was most important to them; family and loving relationships. After a short stint in Fremont, California, the family settled in Rockwell City, Iowa. There they had their third child, Jonathan Richard, in 1971. The following year, the family of five moved to Ames, Iowa, so that Jim could finish his Ph.D. at Iowa State. In 1974, Jim graduated from Iowa State; he then began a professorship in Educational Administration and Leadership at Drake University, where he would teach through 1988. During this time, Judy went back to school to complete her bachelor and Masters degrees, and together they worked side by side leading human relations workshops and counseling together. Jim also served as Dean of the College of Education, and was involved in the Kettering Foundation, which gave many opportunities for professional growth and travel. Jim and Judy made a home in Urbandale, Iowa, where they would stay for 12 years and raise their three children. During this time, the whole family was involved in First Federated Church; they traveled with their children all across the country in their self designed blue camper van which had the words “Halvorsenville, Population 5” stickered across the back! From Canada to Mexico to Alaska, Jim’s exuberance for life and can-do attitude provided numerous adventures and good times with family and friends during those years, especially with our dearest chosen family, the Thompsons. In 1988, Jim and Judy moved to Santa Barbara where Judy took a job at Westmont College, and Jim continued his private consulting work. In 1990, Jim became the Director of Leadership and Assistant Chaplain at Westmont, where he worked through 1999; during their years at Westmont, Jim and Judy developed many relationships with students and faculty which would continue to be a big part of the rest of their lives. Another impactful experience during this season of life were their trips to Central America, and the ongoing relationships with the projects and people they met there. Their next venture was opening Prufrocks in 1995, a Bed and Breakfast in Carpinteria, California, where the two would spend over 15 years. They were very involved in their church, Montecito Covenant, throughout those years and remain deeply connected to the people in that church community. Jim and Judy retired to their home in Truckee, California in 2009. In their retirement years, they have been blessed to travel around the country visiting family and friends, and have taken many wonderful trips around Europe. Jim and Judy treasured the gift of meeting so many people and seeing so much of God’s beautiful world; they particularly loved Switzerland. The adventure of travelling together was a great joy. Jim and Judy were also passionate about hosting many friends and family at Falconview, their home in Truckee; they had lots of fun hiking with friends and boating on the lake. The last couple years, Jim and Judy spent the winters in Santa Barbara, where they loved spending more time with their daughters’ families and continuing their connections with friends and their community there. Jim and Judy have been blessed with 12 beautiful and unique grandchildren, who are currently between the ages of 7 and 27, and have been a significant part of their life together. Jim is also survived by the love of his life, his wife Judy; and his three children, Jacqueline Ellington, 56, Jennifer Wiebe, 54, and Jonathan Halvorsen, 51. Jacque Ellington lives in Chino Hills, California with her husband, Matt, and their children Audrey, Daniel, and David Ellington. Jennifer Wiebe lives in Pasadena, California, with her husband Steve; they also have three children: Alexis, Michaela, and Owen Wiebe. Jonathan Halvorsen lives in Tahoe City, California with his wife, Julie; they have six children: Hannah, Haydn, Bjorn, Sven, Chasyn, and Savannah. Jim treasured thoughtful conversations with a wide variety of people on a wide variety of topics, including issues of faith, learning, and pursuit of the mystery of God’s great and immeasurable love. Jim and Judy shared their love of relationships and travel on many roads and trails and stops around Lake Tahoe and throughout the world. Jim and Judy had a love like no other, and their marriage and deep companionship of 58 years has been an inspiration to many. Above all, Jim was an exuberant, passionate, and relentless lover of people who sought to share God’s abiding love with all. This is his legacy. Our Jim, Dad, and Papa: be at rest in the loving embrace of God and know that in this life and beyond, you are forever beloved.

Tributes

James Richard Halvorsen

August 14, 1944 - July 6, 2022