James Henry Herold, 93, of Casper, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at his residence surrounded by family.

Jim was born November 16, 1926 in Santa Monica, California to Dr. Henry L. Herold and Helen (Daughenbaugh). He was one of seven children; Phillip, Justin, Lucian, Norman, Jim, Joan, and Robert.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Verna (Brackin) and his second wife of five years, Jean (Desmarais), and Jim and Verna’s children; Henry “Hank”, Brigid, Shannon and her husband Frank Brummund, and daughter-in-law Esther Herold.

He attended St. Clement Catholic Grade School in Santa Monica, CA. There in First Grade, he met a classmate who became his lifelong friend, Ed Houston. Both attended Loyola High School. He and his friend Ed met two more young men, Tom Lydon and Bill Thom, with whom they forged a strong bond. This foursome became known as “The Unholy Four”. Since “Jimmy’s” passing Ed is now the sole surviving member.

While at Loyola High school Jim was on two back-to-back California State Championship football teams. He played both sides of the ball as an End. He took second in the 220-yard dash at the LA Times Schoolboy Invitational Track Meet. He also played baseball and was a catcher and a third baseman. He set a record when he hit the longest home run ever at Loyola. He was an all-star catcher which led to a signing by a minor league team, the Los Angeles Angels.

However, instead of baseball, he followed his older brothers, Justin “Jiggs” and Lucian “Louie” into the service in 1945. While they both were in the Navy he served in the Army. He was promoted to the rank of corporal before damaging his eardrums and started to lose his hearing, and he eventually received an honorable discharge.

While waiting for discharge in Chicago, he went to visit cousins in Cresco, Iowa and met his future wife, Verna Brackin. They were married May 4, 1946 in St. Joseph Catholic Church, the same church in which his parents had been wed. His grandfather, Phillip Herold, had helped build the church and was a trustee for 30 years.

After his discharge from the Army, Jim and Verna moved to Santa Monica. They lived with Jim’s parents while Jim went to school at Santa Monica City College, 1947-1949. They had two children while living there: James Patrick “JP” and Brigid.

Jim, Verna, JP, and Brigid then moved to Kirkland, Washington while Jim attended the University of Washington. He took art courses and some of Jim’s art was put on display at the University. He also attended the Forestry Field Day every year and won the “Best Beard” contest each year, the trophy being a kiss from Miss University of Washington. After four years at the University of Washington he received two degrees, one in Botany and one in Forestry.

Jim & Verna had their second son, Henry “Hank” while living in Washington. The growing family moved to Eugene, Oregon. Jim took his first position as a forester for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). He spent three years there learning his trade. After a dispute with his supervisor, he was transferred to Casper, Wyoming in 1955. This was seen as a punishment by his supervisor but turned out to be a great blessing for Jim and his family, so much so that he lived the next 65 years in Casper (he liked to spell it – Caspar, as it should …). He became BLM District Forester for the eastern half of the state of Wyoming, working the Black Hills, Big Horns, Shirley Mountains, Pumpkin Buttes, and other ‘treed’ areas in the district. He was the Fire Marshall for the combined government agencies during fire season for many years. He stated, “fighting fires was the hardest thing he had done and the most dangerous.” He led a large crew for several years in fighting beetle infestations in the southern Big Horn Mountains, for which he was awarded from the federal government.

During his years with the BLM Jim was awarded Civil Servant of the Year from Washington D.C. for his work in Oregon and awarded again for his work in Wyoming. He worked for the BLM as a forester for 36 years, saying he was proud to have made it so long, and he did this while progressively losing his hearing and eventually becoming deaf. He loved being out in the woods going up and down mountains. Some of his colleagues referred to him as “The Old Bull of the Woods”.

When James and his family moved to Casper, Wyoming they became early members of a very new Catholic parish in Casper—Our Lady of Fatima (Fatima or OLF). Jim continued being an active member for much of his 65 years in Casper. He belonged to and is a former president of the Holy Name Society and was a member of Knights of Columbus. He worked on several building projects at Our Lady of Fatima. He did the calligraphy work for first communion and confirmation announcements as well as several large posters and signs displayed around Fatima.

Jim and Verna’s fourth child, Shannon was born in Casper. In the 1960’s they expanded their family. In 1963 they adopted an eighteen-month-old Chinese baby girl, Angelina “Angie” and four years later they adopted three Northern Cheyenne siblings, Twyla, Brooks “Barry”, and Rita Rae.

Jim found Wyoming a wonderful place to explore outdoor hobbies; Jim and his family enjoyed rockhounding, arrowhead hunting, camping, fishing, and hunting. He also found a love for birding (birdwatching) and the hobby of model trains and riding and watching real trains.

While in his 50s, Jim climbed Devils Tower in NE Wyoming with his nephew, Mark Brackin, and was the first deaf person to do so.

The big hobby and passion for Jim and Verna was birdwatching. They were members of the Murie Chapter of the National Audubon Society (Murie-Audubon), the Izaak Walton League, and American Birding Association. Jim and Verna birdwatched the entire state of Wyoming and the rest of the United States. They held the record for most Life Birds sighted in Wyoming. Eventually their birdwatching extended to Alaska, Europe, and New Zealand.

Birds, Nature, Conservancy were passions of Jim’s to the end.

Jim remained active to the end of his life;
He loved spending time up on “The Land” up on Casper Mountain. When he and Verna purchased “The Land”, “The cabin is your mother’s domain. The trees are mine to Forest.”

Jim joined his friends at Johnny J‘s Diner every Tuesday morning for breakfast, every Friday night he enjoyed going to Perkins for dinner and then joined his friends at the Central Wyoming Model Railroad Association’s Open House (model train club), and attended Our Lady of Fatima’s Coffee and Rolls, Mass, and then another session of Coffee & Rolls every Sunday morning. He looked forward to socializing with all of his friends.

Jim is survived by his brother Robert “Bob” Herold of California. Jim is also survived by his children; James Patrick “JP” of Colorado, daughter-in-law Pam of California, Twyla Christensen of Wyoming, Angela “Angie” and husband Pete Chimney of Texas, Brooks “Barry” of Hawaii, Rita Rae and husband Walter Nixon of Montana, and honorary daughter Marie Baker McCullum of Wyoming. He is survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews, and godchildren, as well as his close friends; Willie and Anne Fitzgerald, Homer Whitlock, and his lifelong friend Ed Houston. He will be greatly missed by his companion Windham “Puppy”.

Memorial donations in the memory of James H. Herold:
Meals on Wheels of Casper
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church of Casper
The Murie Chapter of the National Audubon Society of Casper

At the time of Jim’s passing services were delayed due to the current global pandemic and the COVID-19 mandates at that time, “GOOD GRIEF!...”

“… OH…. ALRIGHT…”

Rest in Peace BEARy Dear Mountain Man. Onward!

The clergy and cemetery staff will require that a mask be worn at the services, thank you for your understanding.

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