James William Fitzgerald, better known as "Jimmy" to his family and friends, was born October 21, 1923, at Redfield, South Dakota, to William James and Clara Ellen (Adley) Fitzgerald.

In 1929 the family moved to the Milesville community where he attended the local country school and later graduated from Philip High School.

After graduaion he enrolled in a trade school in Eastern South Dakota, where he studied welding.  Following his studies he traveled to Washington State where he worked on the Bonneville Dam.

In 1944 he came home to enlist in the Navy where he saw active duty as a gunner/armed guard, making many transatlantic trips on a liberty ship.

In that same year, during his break after boot camp, he was united in marrige to Louise Pauline Elizabeth Stahl on Septmber 8, 1944, at Rapid City, South Dakota.

After his tour of duty they made their home in California where he worked as a welder in the shipyards.  A few years later James, Louise, and their son, Bruce, returned to South Dakota where they made their permanent home on a farm-ranch in the Milesville area.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Louise Fitzgerald, of Milesville; four sons, Duane Fitzgerald of Pierre, Mark Fitzgerald of Philip, Brett Fitzgerald of Geneva, Switzerland, and Dana Fitzgerald of Milesville; one daughter, Cheryl Lawrence of Casa Grande, Arizona; his mother, Clara Fitzgerald of Philip; two brothers, Tom Fitzgerald of Philip and George Fitzgerald of Milesville; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Dawn Rae Fitzgerald; a son, Bruce Wayne Fitzgerald; and his father, William James Fitzgerald.

A memorial is established.

Services
Monday, November 25, 1996
10:00 a.m.
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Ray Greenseth
Reverend Glenn Schultz

Music
Marlis Doud - Pianist
Marlis & Rick Doud - Vocalists

Ushers
Bill Fitzgerald - Carla (Fitzgerald) Knutson

Active Pallbearers
George Fitzgerald - Kenny Neville
Dallas Fitzgerald - Colt Fitzgerald
Dawn (Fitzgerald) Selchert - Daniel Fitzgerald
Erike Fitzgerald - C.J. Fitzgerald

Honorary Pallbearers
Denise Fitzgerald - Kirsten Stilwell
Darcy Fitzgerald - Kelsey Fitzgerald
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Full Military Rites
by the Wheeler-Brooks American
Legion Post #73 of Philip
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota