James Siedelmann

JIM SIEDELMANN IDAHO FALLS, ID -- James Ernest Siedelmann was 47 years old. He was born February 15, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Robert and Lucy (Crabtree) Siedelmann. He died of complications of diabetes at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, November 14, 2004. His family moved to Idaho Falls when he was six, then returned to Pittsburgh when he was 14 and came back when he was 17. He spent most of his life in Idaho Falls and considered it his home. He became a Cub Scout at age 9 and was active in Scouting for the rest of his life. He was awarded his Eagle Scout in Troop 6 at Trinity United Methodist Church on February 13, 1975, just two days before he turned 18. Jim attended honor classes in high school in Pittsburgh. After returning to Idaho Falls, he did very well scholastically. He was on the math team and won several awards. Jim graduated from Skyline High School in June, of 1975, and attended the University of Idaho. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in December of 1980. Shortly after he entered the University of Idaho he contracted juvenile (type 1) diabetes. He dealt with the diabetes for the rest of his life. But he took the engineer’s approach to it, he wasn’t depressed by it, and he didn’t let it keep him from leading an active life. Life was hard for him. Diabetes doesn’t go away, it kills the organs and body systems and eventually it killed him. He went to the Scout Holiday Auction Friday night, and a few hours later high blood pressure caused a blood vessel to burst in his brain, he didn’t suffer. During high school he worked for the Mann Theaters and Channel 8 TV. He became one of the youngest persons ever to pass the Federal examination for the First Class communications license, which allowed him to operate a TV station alone. Because of that, the public TV station in Moscow was happy to employ him. After he graduated he worked for Weyerhaeuser for a short time, then returned to TV 8. In 1984 he went to work for Energy, Inc. He designed the “black boxes” that go into nuclear power plants to monitor their systems and keep them running. He joked that he did the same job at the same desk but the company kept changing. It is now Scientech NUS Instruments. This was his 20th year there as Senior Design Engineer. He will be a hard man for them to replace. Jim became the Scoutmaster of Troop 6 in 1981, and still held that position when he died. He met his wife, Cheryl (Mosby) while doing Vanguard Scout training and they were married on February 17, 1998. He said that he didn’t marry before that because he didn't want to pass on his condition to children. Instead, he devoted his life to Scouting – at least till he married Cheryl. They were married in their scouting uniforms and he will be honored in his. He was very proud of his scouting achievements, his Silver Beaver, Woodbadge Beads, Cross and Flame and other knots he earned. He loved doing Eagle Courts of Honor, and so this is one for him. He touched the lives of a generation of Scouts who will remember him as their Scoutmaster. He was a member of Trinity, serving on the board of Trustees. He also was the Information Technology department - maintaining the security, computer and phone systems. He lived his life by the Scout Oath and Law. Jim loved life. He knew his life would be shorter than normal and tried to live it to the fullest. He and Cheryl shared a love of cats, Star Trek, adventure and, of course, Scouting. Their only serious incompatibility was that he was a PC guy, and Cheryl uses Macs. Jim had many goals and didn't reach them all. He never left the country or took a cruise. But he loved hiking and camping and did lots of that even though it was difficult for him. He also had his dream house built. Jim was a good and loving husband to Cheryl. He liked puns and liked to do the puzzles in the paper. He did his share of cooking, but wasn't too keen on housework. He was very smart and could fix anything. It is a shame that he died when he had so much to live for. Just as there are only two things certain in life - death and taxes, those two things are also not fair - they just are. Jim was a devoted son, brother, step father and friend. He is survived by his wife Cheryl, father Robert Siedelmann, stepsons Robert Mosby and Frederick Mosby, brothers Dan, David (Ruby) Siedelmann and sister Lori (Brad) Stanger. His mother, Lucy Siedelmann, died in 1998. A Court of Honor will be held for him at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, 2004, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 North Water, Idaho Falls. There will be a viewing beginning at 6:30 p.m. and reception following. His Scouting friends may wear their uniforms. Any donations can be made to the Friends of Scouting for Troop 6, c/o 3706 West 49th South, Idaho Falls, ID 83402.