James E. Bie

James E. Bie

Palm Desert - James E. Bie died on June 4, 2019 in Palm Desert. He was born in Racine, WI on December 26, 1927 to Margaret and William H. Bie, Sr. He went to Tulane University in New Orleans on a full athletic scholarship based on his accomplishments in football and track. He always boasted, however that his greatest sports claim was his father played for the Racine Iroquois, the first football team that ever scored against the Green Bay Packers.

After his first year of college, Jim enlisted in the Army and served with the occupation forces in Germany. Following his discharge he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and graduated in 1950 with a degree in journalism.

He later worked for the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Marquette University where he coordinated alumni, public relations, and fund raising activities. In 1966 he moved to La Jolla, California as a stock broker, became involved in venture capital financing and was a founding partner in a nutritional development firm which was later sold to a pharmaceutical laboratory.

Jim retired in 1994 and rotated between homes in La Jolla, Palm Desert and Loreto, Mexico. An enthusiastic traveler, Jim and his wife Victoria visited more than 50 countries around the globe. He is survived by his wife and his sons James who lives in Phoenix and Garry who lives in the San Diego area.

Donations may be made in Jim's honor to Reliance Hospice 74130 Country Cub Drive Palm Desert CA 92260 or Desert Cancer Foundation at www.desertcancerfoundation.org.