James Russell Dahl

We gather to honor James Russell Dahl, born October 30, 1933, in Fargo, North Dakota, and passed on June 18, 2025, in Seattle, Washington, at 91. A man of intellect, compassion, and devotion, James's life was shaped by his immigrant heritage, academic excellence, medical career, and profound love for family.

Childhood Rooted in Resilience

Born to educators in Fargo, North Dakota, Jim was steeped in the legacy of his Danish and Norwegian grandparents, who homesteaded in Minnesota with little but determination. His father, a school superintendent with a master’s degree, and his mother, a teacher who spoke no English until school, instilled a love of learning. Raised during the Great Depression, Jim and his younger brother Vern faced dust storms, blizzards, and economic hardship. By age four, he read fluently, reciting poetry on Fargo radio. Promoted early to first grade, he thrived academically. His family moved to Okabena in 1941—a tough adjustment with no indoor plumbing—then to Jeffers in 1943, where he excelled in sports, music, and Boy Scouts, earning Eagle rank. In 1948, they settled in Milroy, where he graduated as valedictorian, shaped by rural life, wartime news, and family vacations to national parks.

A Stellar Education

James’s academic path was marked by brilliance. Scoring in the top 1% on Minnesota’s ACE exam, he attended the University of Minnesota, working as a pot-washer to afford it. Initially studying pharmacy, he switched to pre-med after a 3.75 GPA, encouraged by his counselor. Summers included grueling jobs at packing plants and a formative role as a psychiatric aide in Rochester, where he met his future wife, Wanda Keller. Accepted to the University of Chicago’s medical school, he earned a full-tuition scholarship, joined Alpha Kappa Kappa fraternity, and graduated first in his class in 1959, earning Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha, and Sigma Xi honors. His research on rats led to a published paper and a presentation in Carmel, California.

A Distinguished Medical Career

Jim interned at Seattle’s King County Hospital, working 120-hour weeks, followed by an internal medicine residency at UCSF and a hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Washington, interrupted by Army service in Munich, Germany, during the Berlin Crisis. There, he and Wanda traveled Europe, visiting ancestral homes in Scandinavia. In 1965, he joined a medical practice in Marin County, California, becoming board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. For 32 years, he cared for patients, with Wanda as his office nurse for the last decade. He was a passionate advocate for hospice care. He served as the medical director at the second hospice founded in the US and helped many more hospices get started. He was also the president of the Marin County Cancer Society, and chief of medicine at Marin General Hospital, also teaching at UCSF. He served as president of the Marin County Cancer Society, and chief of medicine at Marin General Hospital. A 1992 prostate cancer diagnosis, cured surgically, prompted retirement in 1997 to Camano Island, Washington.

Devotion to Family

Jim’s heart belonged to his family. Married to Wanda in 1957, they raised three children—Jim (orthopedic surgeon), Erik (Lt. Col. in Army Medical Corps), and Kristin (Zillow Vice-President)—and eight grandchildren. They coached 18 youth sports teams, attended every game, and cheered at college rowing races, including Jim’s 1984 national championship at Henley, England. Family trips spanned Mexico, Canada, Europe, and beyond, with cruises to the Mediterranean, Brazil, and Alaska. They moved near Kristin in Seattle in 2018 and after Wanda’s passing in 2022, to a retirement community in downtown Seattle until his death. Wanda and Jim were married for 65 years. Their 50th anniversary celebration in 2007 at Lake Chelan with the whole family was a cherished milestone.

Game On

Jim loved games. He was a passionate golfer who made many friends on the courses he frequented. He also almost always won a bit of money off those friends with some stellar holes. They didn't seem to mind as they kept playing with him. He cherished watching golf, baseball and football games. He was ruthless at backgammon, bumping you back to the bar at any opportunity. He also loved cribbage and played regular blackjack at his retirement home.

James Russell Dahl’s life was a tapestry of heritage, achievement, and love. His legacy endures in the lives he touched as a physician, mentor, and devoted family man.

REMEMBER ME

Speak of me as you have always done,

Remember the good times,

laughter and fun.

Share the happy memories we've made,

Do not let them wither or fade.

I'll be with you in the summer's sun,

And when the winter's chill has come.

I'll be the voice that whispers in the breeze,

I'm peaceful now, put your mind at ease.

I've rested my eyes and gone to sleep,

But memories we've shared are yours to keep.

Sometimes our final days may be a test,

But remember me when I was at my best.

Although things may not be the same,

Don't be afraid to use my name.

Let your sorrow last for just a while,

Comfort each other and try to smile.

I've lived a life filled with joy and fun,

Live on now, make me proud

of what you'll become.