James Katterman

James 'Jim' Katterman
POCATELLO - James "Jim" R. Katterman Sr., 83, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2007, following an accident. He was born March 22, 1923, in River Rouge, Michigan, to Arthur A. and Vine Katterman.
Jim attended Catholic schools while growing up, and his Catholic upbringing was very important to him all through his life. His family prayed the rosary every Sunday evening. Jim was on a swimming team in high school and won many awards. He loved life and enjoyed helping others throughout his life.
Jim joined the Navy and served during World War II. He was very proud of his service in the Navy and talked about it, especially in his later years. He was part of a Patrol Bombing Squadron-One Forty-Six that served in the South Pacific. Jim has kept in touch with members of the squadron, and they would meet every couple of years. He especially remembered walking back to the barracks and bumping into his brother, who was also in the Navy, and whom he had not seen for 22 months. This led to an awesome three-day liberty.
After an honorable discharge, Jim began to work for the New York Central Railroad. His first job with the railroad was shoveling coal, and then later he prepared himself for the very rigid tests to become a locomotive engineer. After passing the tests, Jim held that position until retirement in September 1975.
Jim and his wife, Doreen, enjoyed many activities together, such as trap and skeet shooting and deer hunting on the Fisher Estate in Michigan. They traveled extensively in their Airstreem Trailer while visiting many wonderful states. He also enjoyed oil painting, wood carving, gardening and very much loved to fish. He even took a class and built a couple of graphite fly fishing rods. While living in Michigan, he loved to fish for muskie, pike, walleye, salmon, perch and the smelt runs.
Giving his life to service of others, Jim also enjoyed saving jam and jelly jars for the Franciscan Sisters here in Pocatello. The Sisters would use these jars for the wonderful jams they make. Jim loved to make bread and top it with jam from the Sisters.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Doreen, April 22, 2005. He is survived by three daughters, Karen Jensen, Idaho, Maureen Katterman, Michigan, and Jeanne Marie Ziegelman, Florida; and a son, James Richard Jr.; seven grandchildren, James Robert and Christopher Jensen, Elliott and Jonathan Ziegelman and Dennis, Daniel and David Katterman.
A rosary service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, January 22 at Holy Spirit Catholic Community, St. Anthony's Chapel, on Seventh Avenue. A funeral Mass will be celebrated with Father Justin Brady at 10 a.m., also at the church. Interment with military rites offered by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard will be at Section 53 East of Mountain View Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Downard Funeral Home, 241 N. Garfield Ave.