James Stanley Wolfe

James “Jim” Stanley Wolfe, 86, Sandpoint resident, died Saturday, May 9, 2009 in Spokane. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, May 20th, in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel. Pastor Barry Johnson, New Song Bible Church, will be officiating. Jim was born in Sidney, Nebraska on Feb. 26, 1923 the son of Stanley and Flora Wolfe. The family moved to North Idaho and Jim graduated from Sandpoint High School. He learned riveting at a school, in the Powerhouse Building, operated by Boeing Aircraft Company. He joined the US Navy at the start of WW II, becoming a machinist, and was assigned to a carrier aircraft squadron in the South Pacific. Following the war Jim earned his pilot’s license, his A&P mechanics license, and then worked at converting Stearman Trainers into crop dusting planes. He returned to Sandpoint and worked with his father, getting his electrical contractors license in 1951. On Sept 8, 1957 Jim married Mary Jane Searfus in Sandpoint. He worked, as an electrician, until retiring in 1985. Jim owned several airplanes over the years. Bob Sleep, and Jim, also built two bi-planes that they flew over the Sandpoint area. Jim did the casting, tooling, and machine work for the bi-planes. He also enjoyed building several model steam engines,and photography. He was a longtime member of Lakeside Lodge # 42 AF and AM. He is survived by his daughter Judi Rosa in Spokane and his grandson Nicholas Kelly in Coupeville, WA; numerous nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and 2 sisters Josephine and Mary Blanche.