James A Burkholder

Jim passed away Sunday, 19 December 2021. Jim was born 23 June 1944 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Beloved Father and Husband to his children Bridgett Burkholder, Brittany Burkholder and her husband Charles de Candolle, and his wife Ruth Burkholder.

Jim joined the Air Force in 1969. He was commissioned an officer and graduated from Pilot Training at Vance AFB. He flew 225 missions over Vietnam where he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross medal. He went on to fly the OV-10 and F-111. He attended Air Force Academy as an Air Squadron Commander and retired as the Assistant Deputy Commandant of Cadets in 1991.

He moved to his hometown, Bonners Ferry, Idaho and renovated the "Old Northside School" built in 1912. It is currently on the historic register and converted to a bed and breakfast. While in Bonners Ferry, he served as a City Councilman, VA representative for Job Service, Hospital Board member and Festival of Trees committee, various positions at the American Legion and was a sought-after guest speaker for numerous organizations. It was while acting as the MC for Miss Bonners Ferry, that an article in the paper was discovered by the Home and Gardens show. They filmed the family and home and featured it on the Building Character series. He was an avid military collector and had an extensive collection "museum" he shared freely with the community.

The family moved to Oahu, Hawaii in 2005 where he had his 2nd retirement. He devoted his attention to family, home, and an 80-gallon saltwater aquarium. He loved the beaches, sun, snorkeling, and our travels to Tahiti, Philippines, Fiji, and visiting Brittany when attending school in Japan, Korea, and Switzerland.

In 2018 the family relocated to Bremerton, Washington. We rediscovered the scenic Pacific Northwest and made it our final home.