Eldron Buford “Jim” Wallace, 100, passed away on April 16, 2026, at Dove Nursing Home in Spooner, Wisconsin. His goal was to make it to his 100th birthday, which he did, on Feb, 27, 2026.
Jim was born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, on Feb. 27, 1926, to Cora (Running) and Clint Wallace. He was raised by his aunts and uncles, as his mother passed away 13 days after he was born due to complications from childbirth.
Jim tried to enlist in the Marines in 1943, however was denied due to having flat feet and being underweight. He served in the U.S. Navy for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1944, serving overseas in Korea until 1952. He worked as an engineer for the Great Northern Railroad from 1949 to 1961, and was in the Army Reserves while working as an engineer for the State of Minnesota until retirement in 1985.
Jim was united in marriage to Beatrice Premo in April 1952 in Kalispell, Montana. They raised five daughters together before moving to Yuma, Arizona, and then living out their remaining years in Siren, Wisconsin. Jim and Bea enjoyed traveling after retirement.
Jim is survived by his son, George (Shirley) Chapman; daughters, Linda McHale, Rebecca (Andy) Anderson, and Barbara (Darwin) Wallace; and nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cora and Clint; brothers, Clayton and Gordon; wife, Beatrice; daughters, Debra Skarda and Brenda "Bunny" Pierce; sons-in-law, Pat McHale and Mike Skarda; grandson, Tim Chapman; and three infant children.
Jim’s final resting place is at Forest Lawn Cemetery with his wife and daughter in St. Paul, Minnesota.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 1 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church, 24096 1st Ave, Siren, WI 54872. We would like to thank the staff at Dove Nursing Home.
