James “Jim” Lovell Lafrenz, 85, of Post Falls, passed away Sept. 2, 2012. He was born April 10, 1927, in Seattle to Victor Eugene and Gertrude Marguerita (Granger) Lafrenz.

He grew up in Seattle, joining the Army in December 1945 shortly after the end of World War II. After his discharge in January 1947 he worked briefly for Safeway. He then worked quite some time as a lab technician at the mines in Holden, Wash., and Bunker Hill. After his work in the mines he was offered a job with the federal government as a metallurgical chemist. His next job with the government was as an assistant buildings manager for all of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. He retired from the U.S. government in December 1987.

His first marriage was to Caroline Patricia Hungerford at Fort Ord, Calif., in February 1946. She died of MS in 1975. Jim married his widowed sister-in-law, Bonnie (Driggs) Lafrenz in June 1976 and they recently celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary.

Jim loved to hunt, fish, take little or big rides about the countryside, and work or play on the computer. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Chelan, Wash.

Jim is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Post Falls; sons, Timothy and Ailie Lafrenz of Kingston, Michael and Rhonda Lafrenz of Rathdrum, and Gary Lafrenz and Linda Weldin of Moses Lake, Wash.; his daughter, Myrl and Dick Halliday of Coeur d’Alene; stepson, Alan and Beverly Lafrenz of Cincinnati, Ohio; stepdaughters, Betti and Byran Gieser of Spokane Valley, Wash., and Cari Lafrenz of Spokane Valley; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Jim was and still is deeply loved by all of his large family.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, with a reception following at Yates Hayden Chapel’s Gathering Center.

The family prefers memorials to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210. Please visit Jim’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.