James Womeldorf

James (Jim) Curtis Womeldorf, age 79, of Decorah, died on Monday, August 22, 2022, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN of heart failure. We will celebrate Jim's life at the Decorah Fish Hatchery on Sunday, September 25 from 2-5 p.m. There will be special music around 3:00 p.m. Private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to Raptor Resource Center, Decorah Lutheran Church, the Decorah Food Pantry or the charity of your choice. Jim was born January 17, 1943, eldest son of Walter and Eleanor (Vick) Womeldorf. He was baptized and confirmed at Decorah Lutheran Church, attended elementary and high school in Decorah, studied for one year at Iowa State University, and graduated from Luther College in 1966 with a major in physics and minors in chemistry and mathematics. On August 28, 1965, he married Laurel (Luzum) at Calmar Lutheran Church. They made their home in Decorah for the first year of their marriage while both completed their degrees at Luther. Following graduation, they moved to Grand Meadow, MN where Jim taught physics, chemistry, and science. After three years of teaching in Grand Meadow, Jim and Laurel moved to Calmar and taught at Turkey Valley Junior and Senior High Schools - again, Jim taught physics, chemistry, and science. During his 5 years at Turkey Valley, he spent one summer on the Upward Bound Staff at Luther College. Jim spent the next 12 years of his working life driving for UPS, most of the time delivering to the Postville area. When back issues became a problem for him, he quit his life as a UPS man and bought Tindell Shoes in Postville. He was a retailer for four years and then moved on to his favorite career - that of software engineering. He spent one semester studying computer science at Luther and was then hired by Sweet Computers Systems in West Union where he spent the next 6 years. He then obtained a position at Fastenal Company in Winona, MN and retired from there in 2007. One of the things Jim loved most was singing and performing. He performed in three high school musicals, sang at numerous weddings starting in his high school years, was a member of Luther's Nordic Choir for three years, the Decorah Chorale in its early years, Luren Singing Society, and the Decorah Lutheran Church Choir. When he was in college he taught himself to play the guitar so he could accompany himself as he sang. If Jim were to choose one word to describe himself, he would say he was "savvy". There was very little he couldn't either do or learn to do. He designed and built their earth sheltered home, wrote poetry, volunteered with the Raptor Resource Center, was a member of Decorah's "Torske Club" and served on Friends of the Decorah Public Library Board. He loved wood working, helping people, and most of all hugs. He is survived by his wife, Laurel, sons Brian (Paula) of Decorah, IA and David (Stephanie) of Edina, MN, grandchildren Samantha, Emily, Grace, Carter, and step-grandchildren Alexander and Isabella, brother, Wayne (Sue) Womeldorf of Tucson, AZ, sister-in-law, Cindy Womeldorf of Decorah, IA and brother-in-law, Lyle Luzum (Sue) of Decorah, IA, several nieces and a nephew, as well as many cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Eleanor Womeldorf, his parents-in-law, Fred and Mildred Luzum, his brother, Dean and step-grandson Sebastian Torres.