Obit: Pettit, James Norbert (1940 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pettit, Deleski, McClearly, Meier

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/17/2016

Pettit, James Norbert (31 March 1940 - 24 December 2015) With Flag

James Norbert Pettit, 75, formerly of Neillsville died Dec. 24, 2015, at Select Specialty Hospital in Omaha, NE. Born on March 31, 1940, in Tripp County, SD, James was the son of Norbert and Agnes (Deleski) Pettit.

The family moved to a farm south of Reed School House in 1958. He graduated in 1958 from Neillsville High School and then entered the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Texas and California. In 1963, after the service, he moved to Denver, CO. and worked for the Shell Chemical Company at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. In November 1964, he married Marydel Louise McClearly, and they had two sons: Gary James and Mark Robert.

After divorcing in 1972, James moved to Des Moines, IA, in 1974 to be closer to his two sons. There he worked for Mercy Hospital for over 20 years as a power plant engineer. He also enlisted in the Iowa Air National Guard and retired in 1993 with 23 years of military service to his country. He retired with a rank of technical sergeant. He also attained expert marksmanship status with the M-16.

In 1996, he semi-retired and moved to Mesquite, NV. In 2014, due to health reasons, he moved to Omaha, NE, to be near his son Gary.

His favorite activities were camping, gardening, fishing and target shooting.

He is survived by his son, Gary, daughter-in-law, Linda, and three grandchildren: Clinton, Hayley and William of Ashland, NE; sister, Maureen (Wayne) Meier of Neillsville; brothers: John (Janie) Pettit of Neillsville and David (Linda) Pettit of Morton, IL; and several nieces and nephews.

James was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Mark.

A service will be held in the spring at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Neillsville.