JAMES ROBERT MESSERLI

1938 - 2025

NAMPA FORMERLY OF CASCADE, ID - James Robert Messerli passed away on May 24, 2025.

No public services are planned. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home.

Jim was born June 25, 1938 in Mitchell, South Dakota to Maurice "Tubby" and Catherine "Kay" Messerli. He attended schools in Mitchell, South Dakota and graduated from high school in Huron, South Dakota.

Jim joined the Navy upon graduation in 1956 and served for six years in Widbey Island, Washington, Japan, and Kodiak, Alaska as an Aviation Ordinance man.

Jim met his wife Jana when they attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. They were married February 1, 1964. Jim received his BS in 1967. He received an assistantship at Utah State University where he received his MS degree.

They were blessed with a daughter Kimberly (Nampa, Idaho) and son Michael (Salt Lake City, Utah). The family enjoyed moving from coast-to-coast following Jim's career as a Wildlife Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The family enjoyed living in low population areas for many years and very short periods in Washington, DC and around Portland, Oregon an hour from the Pacific Ocean.

Jim served in the US Fish and Wildlife Service buying wetlands in South Dakota. In Indiana and Illinois he worked with endangered species and waterfowl. He also ran a duck-banding crew in Canada. Jim served in the Washington, DC office on injurious wildlife regulations. He then served in the regional office in Portland, Oregon where he worked to preserve endangered species habitats throughout the Northwest.

He next served in the area office in Boise, Idaho working with waterfowl on the wildlife refuges in Idaho and Nevada. Jim ended his career as a Natural Resource Specialist with the Bureau of Reclamation in Cascade, Idaho where he retired and lived 27 years until they moved down to Nampa where daughter Kimberly spoiled them rotten. A very special man and a very good life.

Survivors include his wife Jana Messerli; daughter Kimberly Dawn Aulbach (Thomas Starley) of Nampa, Idaho; son Michael Messerli (Linda) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Jana's sisters and their families, Sandy Foss of San Antonio, Texas and Jill Fredericksen in Rapid City, South Dakota.