Tempe, Arizona
William James "Jim" Acker, 82, of Tempe, AZ, passed away September
12, 2006. Jim was born June 8, 1924 in Junction City, KS. He married his high school sweetheart Kathleen "Katie" Altwegg August 13, 1944 in Junction City and served in the Army Air Corp. as a bomber pilot in WWII. He was recalled to active duty in 1951 during the Korean Conflict and remained in the Air Force until retiring in 1970 as a Lt. Col. He then began his second career at ASU in the Geography Dept & retired as Professor Emeritus in 1989. He will be deeply missed by Katie, his wife of 62 years, along with his sons, William Robert (Janice) Acker of Phoenix and Philip James (Melodie) Acker of Tempe; 3 grandchildren, Rebecca Jill (Travis) Renner, Nickolas James and Andrew Lee Acker and 2 great grandchildren, Avery Lynn and Kyler Matthew Renner. Jim was preceded in death by 2 grandsons, Lt. Matthew Philip Acker and Robert Andrew Acker. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 10:00 am, with visitation one hour prior to service, at Grace Community Church, Lamb Chapel, 1200 E. Southern Ave., Tempe. A military interment will be at 2:00 pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of AZ, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix. Contributions may be made in Jim's name to the Arthritis Foundation, Greater S.W. Chapter, 1313 E. Osborn Rd., Ste 200, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Tempe Mortuary handling arrangements.
We wish to express our sympathies to Katie and family over the loss of husband and father. May God's grace sustain you in your time of mourning. Jim was a wonderful man and it was a privilege, knowing him.
Jack & Gloria Smythe
September 18, 2006 | Sun Lakes, AZ
I wish to extend my condolensces to the Acker family. Coincidentally I met Mr. Acker the evening that he passed away at the Fort McDowell casino where it seemed he was known by other patrons as "Bill". I spent nearly an hour with Bill learning all about him and who he was. He was a funny man and I enjoyed his company. As much as I enjoyed his company I know he was that much more enjoyable by his friends and family that got to share their lives with him. He was very proud of his family...
Thomas Howard
September 17, 2006 | Bergenfield, NJ
