James Gordon Beal

James (Jim) Beal passed away peacefully in his home with his family by his side on December 4, 2020, one day before his 88th birthday. Jim suffered from congestive heart failure for the last year but is now at peace and pain free. James Gordon Beal was born on December 5,1932 to David and Viola (Smith) Beal, Dearborn, Michigan. He and his 3 brothers spent their summers either fishing at the Beal family cottage on Ore Lake or golfing at the Dearborn Country Club. Jim’s first job at age 12 was a caddy for prominent members of the Dearborn Country Club. Jim was quite a hockey player as well, and went on to play for the Windsor Spitfire. He also was a member of the practice team for the Detroit Redwings. After graduating in 1952 Jim was drafted into the Navy. He entered the military on September 4, 1952 and was stationed at the Pensacola Florida Naval Base. In 1952, his valuable service to the Navy awarded him a request from the Marines to become a medic. He attended the Navy Hospital Medical School in Portsmouth, Virginia where he became a Marine Corp Hospital Corpsman. Jim proudly served both branches of the military as a front line medic. He served bravely in the Korean War on the ground and in the air as a medic rescuing soldiers who were gravely wounded. He respectfully earned the nickname “Doc” from his many peers. He was proud to also have played on the Marine Corp Baseball team while serving. Jim was an amazing athlete and was so very proud passing on those athletic talents to his grandchildren! Once returning to the United States, he married his love Janice Ann Elizabeth Squire on October 23, 1955, who was also serving in the Navy as an Administrator and was also stationed in Pensacola. They married at the Naval Air Station on the base surrounded by close friends and Jim’s parents. When Jim and Jan were honorably discharged from the military, they traveled to Minnesota to spend time with Jan’s family in Glenwood, Minnesota. He worked alongside his father in law, Charles Squire, and his brother in law, Devon Squire, on the Soo Line Railroad as a fireman. Jim’s experiences and his love for medicine led to his decision to enroll in pharmacy school at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. Jim, along with his wife, spent several frozen winters living in a small quonset hut while Jim took to the cold and stormy winters, walking to class each day in sometimes blinding North Dakota blizzards. Along the way Jim and Jan welcomed 2 children, Laurie and David, who spent the winters in Minnesota with their grandparents while Jim continued his Pharmacy education. After Jim graduated from North Dakota State University, he began his pharmacy career with Osco Drug in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Kewanee, Illinois, and Idaho Falls, Idaho, before being offered his own Osco Drug store in Twin Falls, Idaho, which became the future home for the Beal family. Jim was proud to live in the land of mountains and was very anxious to start his children skiing, which they loved. Jim and Jan loved hanging out in beautiful Sun Valley, which they always loved and visited frequently. Jim’s pharmacy career spanned from 1960-2014, and he loved every minute of dispensing medication and counseling his customers. In the last weeks of his life he continued filling he and Jan’s weekly medication sets. Jim loved and was so proud of his southern Idaho living and being involved in the community, most notably, the Masonic Lodge and the El Korah Shriners. He spent a year as a Shrine Ambassador. He was part of the Shrine Mini Bikers and spent time with wonderful friends riding his mini bike in summer parades all over Idaho, Jim was Worthy Patron for the Order of Eastern Star, Guardian of Job’s Daughters, Bethel 43, where Laurie was Honored Queen, he was involved in the Twin Falls Elks, and he loved being President of the College of Southern Idaho Booster Club, where he made basketball friends from all over the country. He and Jan took in a couple of players from back east whom they remain friends with to this day. Jim was a very loyal member and served on the board of the Jerome Country Club. He made sure everyone who played on the course treated it with dignity, respect and professionalism! Jim and Jan loved to travel in their beautiful motorhome, spending their winters in Welton, Arizona with many of their friends. One of Jim’s favorite things to do was travel across the Mexican border visiting pharmacies and pharmacists who became yearly friends who he always went back to visit. Talking pharmacy was a huge part of his life! Jim’s early found love of golf continued throughout his life. He shared that passion with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, patiently teaching them the love and respect for the game. Jim and Jan enjoyed the friendships they developed at the Jerome Country Club and made a decision to build their dream home on the 14th Tee Box in 1987. Jim’s father David and Jim and Jan designed their home and loved every minute of living there for over 30 years. Their home became the site of numerous gatherings of friends and family where they made everyone feel at home. They loved having their grandchildren at their home. Jim’s grandchildren grew up calling their grandfather Humpa, and the many grown friends still know him and call him Humpa! “Humpa Ham” was always a big hit at the family gatherings. Jim’s grandchildren and great grandchildren loved their Humpa so much. Humpa’s life was so rich and full that he wanted to live on so he could do the things he loved with them. One of the last things he told us was that he would be teeing off in early March. Much later in life, usually through tears, Jim revealed that his monumental life time achievement was keeping wounded marines alive. His steadfast dedication to family, community, friends and his country was the visible and true spirit of Jim and he carried these traits throughout his entire life. He was a hero to so many. Jim was preceded in death by his Father, David Beal, his Mother, Viola (Smith) Beal, his Father In Law, Charles Squire and his Mother In Law, Edna Squire and his brothers, Gerald (Janice), Beal, Texas and Fred (Mary), Beal of Livonia, Michigan. He is survived by brother Kenneth (Barbara) Beal, Texas, daughter Laurie Beal Kaufman (Steve) of Boise, Idaho, son David Beal of Houston, Texas, nieces, Julie Squire Delia and Amy Squire Jenkins of Twin Falls, Idaho, 6 beautiful grandchildren, Ryan Steven Kaufman (Rachel), Shawn Michael Kaufman, Patrick James Kaufman, (PJ), (Selma), Zachery Beal (Taylor), Jesica Beal Ogden (Christopher), Chase Beal and 10 great grandchildren, Alexis Shenning, Isabella Kaufman, Vincenzo Kaufman, Giovanni Kaufman, Kennedy Kaufman, Parker Ogden, Hunter Ogden, Carter Ogden, Tucker Ogden, Kaden Beal, and Aria Kaufman. Jim and Janice’s service will be held at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home on January 20, at 2:00 PM in Twin Falls. Interment will follow with a Military Service for both James and Janice at the Idaho State Veteran’s Cemetery on January 21 at 11:00 AM. Our very dear friend Mike Parke will be officiating. Mike, you have been a dear friend through this very difficult time. Thank you! Jim loved and spent many years giving to the Wounded Warrior Foundation and would love donations, in lieu of flowers, to be given in his name. The link to donate is: https://communityfundraising.woundedwarriorproject.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=3763. Jim loved his Doctor Brian Fortuin and we thank you, Dr. Fortuin for treating Jim with such great respect. All Services and arrangements are under the direction of Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls, Idaho. Those wishing to share memories and condolences may do so on Jim's memorial webpage at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.