James (Jim) Thornes, 82, of St. Maries, Idaho, left his earthly life and went to be with Jesus on February 17, 2026.  He is now in full health and mind and singing with the angels.  He was surrounded with love from his wife, Jane, and daughter, Heidi Waisanen, who were with him.

Jim was born December 15, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas B. and Eleanor (Seaman) Thornes. His father was serving in the US Navy and at war in the Pacific at the time of Jim’s birth.  The family lived in Mt. Holly, New Jersey for Jim’s first three years, then moved to Potomic Heights, Maryland for the next three years..  Jim went  to first grade there. The family moved again, this time to Norfolk, Virginia, and were there  during Jim’s grades 2-6. His father received new orders to move across the country to Long Beach, California. The family followed Rt 66 west to where Jim attended one semester of seventh grade in Long Beach.. Upon his father’s retirement from the Navy, the family returned to the East coast to be nearer family. They settled down in southern Delaware at Ellendale., where Jim finished 7th grade and all of 8th grade.  He graduated from nearby Georgetown High School in 1961.

During summers while Jim was in high school he worked on area farms.  Jim was born to drive and began at an early age of 13 and ran errands for his mother, sometimes even driving her to visit her mother in Philadelphia.  He  enjoyed time at the Atlantic Ocean beaches of Delaware and spending time with his friends.  Several of those friends continue today to stay in touch and meet monthly for breakfast.  Jim, after he married , took  his family often timing their vacations East to include those breakfasts.

Following high school graduation, Jim worked at a canning company, then at a factory that made safety devices for trucks, and finally three years at Playtex Co. in nearby Dover, DE. He enlisted in the navy in 1964, spending his early training at Great Lakes, Illinois.  After boot camp he spent 6 months the USS Salamonie, an oiler ship in Newport, Rhode Island.  When a class opened for him he returned to Great Lakes to attend an electronics school there.  It was at this time he met the love of his life, Jane Ellis, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He was visiting there with a friend.

Jim started traveling 300 miles each way every weekend he had leave to see Jane. Their romance blossomed and continued after Jim was assigned to the USS John King, a guided missile destroyer based out of Norfolk, Virginia.  Jim was an electronics technician responsible for maintaining air search and navigation radar on guided missile destroyers. During Jim’s time on the John King, he had three cruises to the Mediterranean, and some time in the Caribbean Sea. His ship  made a Good will mission to Germany, going through the Kiel Canal. His was the first US ship in that area since WWII.  Jim was transferred to the USS Barney, another guided missile destroyer, in 1967.

Jim and Jane continued a long distance relationship and saw each other during any leave time Jim had.  They were married on December 23, 1967, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where Jane then returned to finish her final semester at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and Jim went on a cruise to the Mediterranean.

Finally on his ship’s return to port in Norfolk, Jim was discharged in July 1968, and the pair moved to Pullman, Washington, where Jim attended Washington State University. He graduated with a degree in forest management in 1972.  Daughter Heidi was born during his senior year.  Jim worked summers during college years in a variety of forestry related jobs with the USFS and private companies.  Upon graduation from WSU the family spent some time in western Washington where Jim was employed as a forester. In 1973, they moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, where Jim had a temporary job as an entomology aide for Idaho Department of Lands.  A fulltime job with Scott Paper in Santa, as a log buyer, forester, and scaler, had the family moving to St. Maries in December of 1973. Two months after that move son Benjamin was born in 1974.

Following a staff cut back at Scott Paper due to the declining market, Jim worked as a consulting forester until he was hired by IDL in St. Maries as a woodland forester in 1976. He worked at administering the Idaho Forest Practices Act, performing logging inspections, fought fires,  and attended many training sessions. He left that position in 1980 to return to consulting forestry. He liked working with people helping them improve their forests.  He subcontracted out and worked at several logging jobs himself as a one man operation.

Soon after moving to St. Maries , the family bought some timberland on Pettis Peak Road and moved there.  Jim and Jane joined the American Tree Farm System and are now 50 year members.  Over the years they acquired more forested land and eventually ended up with a 270 acre tree farm.

As time went on Jim stopped finding other clients and devoted all his time to managing his own forests.  He allowed several forester friends from IDL to come get some practical experience at practicing forestry on his property. They often ended up doing some pre-commercial thinning.

As the children grew older the entire family were involved helping where they could in piling and burning slash, pre-commercial thinning, and with some logging.

Jim’s work gave him experience in interpreting maps and photos, surveying, traversing, cruising and appraising, interpreting rules and regulations, and speaking to groups.  He was a forester by training and a self- taught logger using his knowledge on how to do it right.

Professionally he was elected to the Benewah Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, serving there for several years.  He also conducted annual forestry tours for 19 consecutive years.  He was on the board of directors of Idaho Forest Owners Association , serving as president for two terms. He was on the Idaho Forest Practices Advisory Committee for several years. He was a member of the Woodland council. Jim also served as chairman of the Idaho-Washington Resource , Conservation and Development Council.

As a member of the American Tree Farm System since 1976, he and Jane attended several National Tree Farmer Conventions around the country.  Their tree farm was selected as the tree farm of the year for the state of Idaho in 2013.

Jim loved his trees and land and respected his responsibility to manage it.  he knew every tree and had his own code of marking his trees to keep track of their health over the years.

Jim was devoted to his family and church. He attended and supported their children’s school, sports, church, and Scouting activities.  It did not stop there , as he and Jane often attended their grandchildren’s activities as well.

The tree farm was often used by school, Scout, and church groups. Forestry classes visited for tours. Classes for teachers were frequently invited as well.

Jim loved to drive and many times drove the family across the country to the East coast to southern California to visit family and friends there for vacations.      He also loved cars and had his favorites. He finally was able to acquire a 1956 Oldsmobile like one he had as a teenager. As a host to different groups and friends he treated people to a ride in the “Magic School Bus” or one of his two fire trucks to trips around the trails on the property.

Jim blossomed as a singer in his church choir at Community Presbyterian Church and was sometimes persuaded to sing solos or duets with his talent.  He loved the Lord and was ordained as deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church.

His was a gentle soul and loved serving God, his family and his country. He was a devoted husband, father, and brother.

He is survived by his wife off 58 years, Jane at the family home., son Benjamin  (Katrin) of Austria, daugther Heidi (Michael) Waisanen of St. Maries.  Also Grandchildren Cassie (Steven) Waisanen, Jeffery Waisanen, and Jimmy Thornes. Great-grandchildren; Cooper and Olivia Lindquist.   His brother John (Tina) of Pennsylvania and sister Madelyn Berson of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Eugene Seaman and Thomas Thornes, and sister Elaine O’Day.

Military honors will be presented for Jim on Saturday March 28, 2026 at 9:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Veterans’ Memorial. A celebration of life will follow at 10:00 am at the Community Presbyterian Church- 1100 College Ave. St. Maries, with a gathering afterward to share a meal.

Memorial donations may be made to Community Presbyterian Church or Benewah County Veterans Outreach Center.