James Pritchard

James L. Pritchard, age 60, of Decorah, IA, died Wednesday, November 4, at his home in Decorah. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 7 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah. Burial will follow at Canoe Ridge Cemetery in rural Decorah with Rev. Stacey Nalean – Carlson officiating. In consideration of concerns regarding Covid-19 and our city mandate, social distancing and face masks or shields are required to attend. James Lowell Pritchard was born February 27, 1960 in Phoenix, Arizona, the son of James and Patricia (Green) Pritchard. He grew up with his grandparents who ran a stable in Phoenix. Jim enjoyed traveling with the horses to parades and celebrations across Arizona. He graduated from Mingus Union High School in Cottonwood, Arizona with the class of 1979. He then entered the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in May 1980. He attended Yavapai College in Clarkdale, Arizona for emergency medical technician, fire department strategies and operations receiving an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science. He worked for the National Fire Academy in Emergency Medical Services and was an instructor for emergency vehicle operations. He then attended the State of Arizona Fire School for Emergency Stabilization and then worked for the State Land Department of Forestry for wildland fires. He was member of Arizona Fire Training Association, was a Certified Firefighter II and Hazardous Materials First Responder. He lived in Cottonwood and Prescott, Arizona. He worked for the Verde Rural Fire Department and Rural Ambulance in Cottonwood as a drive EMT. He moved to Decorah in 1993 and worked various construction jobs, Wapsie Produce in Decorah, Iowa Roto Cast Plastics, and then at Deco Products as a forklift operator. Jim met Lisa Forde at a line dancing class at Nob Hill in Decorah. They were united in marriage on October 26, 1996 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. They were blessed with one daughter, Elizabeth. Jim liked to dance and loved listening to music. He had many hobbies, including cooking, baking, deer hunting, fishing and liked to work with leather making belts and wallets. Jim died Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at his home in Decorah, at the age of 60, succumbing to his polycystic kidney disease and related health conditions. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. Jim is survived by his wife, Lisa, daughter, Elizabeth, sister Cindy (Steve) Dent, half-sisters Susan (Tim) Arthur and Kathy Hazelett, half-brothers Jeff Fletcher and Joel Pritchard, special cousins Brenda (Bruce) Zolman, Larry (Nancy) Pritchard, Tommy (Teri) Pritchard and their families, brother-in-law David (Elisha) Forde and their family, father-in-law and mother-in-law Wesley and Bette Forde.