JAMES BALKO

JAMES BALKO

Des Moines

James Balko, 89, passed away on October 5, 2009 at Trinity Center at Luther Park. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Hamilton's Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. prior to the service. The family invites friends to join them for a reception following the service at the Des Moines Botanical Center.

James was born on November 7, 1919 in Wherum, Pennsylvania, to immigrants from Austria. He later moved to Des Moines after meeting his wife, Mary Lee Barsalou, in Arizona. James served in the Army Air Corp during World War II, was the president and a conservationist of the Isaac Walton League, and was a square dancer and master gardener. He volunteered at Hillis Elementary as an aide, the Des Moines Botanical Center, and the Iowa State Fair Cultural Center. A friend to many, after winning a blue ribbon for his salsa at the Iowa State Fair, he was nicknamed "Salsa King" and "Salsa Jim." James was the founder and proprietor of Balko Material Handling and Supply, a position from which he retired in 1989 after 32 years.

James is survived by his wife, Mary Lee; his daughters, Susan Balko, her husband, Larry Eichner and her step-children, Michael and Quinn, Diane Marie (Philip) Brumder, her children, James and Margaret, her step-child Alexandra, and her step-grandchildren, Katie and Steven, and Mary Lee "Meryl" Balko and her husband Gary Justice; and sisters, Mary (Primo) Cassol, Marge Beilchick, Helen (Bob) Choppel, Betty (Ron) Edwards, and Julie Petrof. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Andy, Mike, and Charlie Balko, and his sister, Anne Beilchick.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Des Moines Botanical Center in loving memory of James.