Military service was a tradition in the family of Jim Kavajecz. After 20 years of active duty and another 20 years working for the Idaho State Park system, Jim feels fortunate to now live at the Preston Veterans Home.

The Early Years

James (Jim) Kavajecz, Air Force Veteran, was born in rural Iron River, Wisconsin, known for its excellent trout fishing and summertime Big Blueberry Festival. He and his mother, father, grandmother and five siblings lived on a small dairy farm. Everyone worked hard every day—milking 20-25 head of cows by hand (no machinery) and maintaining the physical property. When there was rare down time, Jim would grab a fly rod and go fishing. Before they sold the farm, he and his brother raced to see who could catch 100 fish first. Jim caught a total of 89 with a very specially crafted fly made from skunk tail and cat hair; it’s an achievement he’s proud of to this day.

Jim and his four brothers went into the service; three served in the Air Force and two in the Army. He acknowledged it must have been stressful for his parents to have all five sons in the military after the oldest wanted to join, then the rest followed suit—either through voluntary service or the draft. For Jim, who was working at the time in the local machine shop and where other jobs were few and far between, joining the military just made good sense.

The Military Years

Jim spent 20 years in the Air Force, from 1955 to 1975. During the first seven years, he was trained as an aircraft electrician; the rest of his career centered around electronics (auto pilot and computers). After four and a half years, he thought he might be ready to leave the military. But then something happened to cause Jim to re-up. He initially had wanted to work at the power plant upon discharge; unfortunately, a steel strike hit, everything shut down and he knew he needed to earn a living, so—being a practical man with strong common sense—back into the Air Force Jim went.

Re-upping meant a transfer from Nebraska to Grand Forks, North Dakota, a location where he liked the people and the work. Later he deployed to Japan where Jim recounted he was “always on the move,” something he did not appreciate. He served in Okinawa, Korea and other parts of southeast Asia. The shifts were long and, as Jim noted, you didn’t always get to do what you wanted to do when you were frequently traveling back and forth to different countries.

He returned to the United States and was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. While that base wasn’t his first choice, he told his wife Natalie that no matter what, “We aren’t complaining. Let’s just accept where we are.” They ended up staying for eight years and actually enjoyed the experience. While a love for gambling never took hold, they did get hooked on seeing great shows. The lesson for Jim was, when you decide to change your attitude, you can make the best of any experience.

Jim’s most vivid memory from those days included a specific “bird colonel” who he knew and respected. The colonel was tough but fair and if you worked long shifts and/or night shifts, he was really helpful to the troops. Unfortunately, as that bird colonel was returning from a mission in Osan, Korea, another plane accidentally pushed him into the runway as he was landing. He died in a large explosion. That accident was a low point in Jim’s military service. Conversely, the good memories he has held onto include the fun times he had with friends he met during his service; some of them grew into lifelong relationships. In fact, Jim still has a friend in Las Vegas and they call each other all the time.

If Jim were to cross paths with today’s youth, he would want to share his personal experiences and explain how much things have changed over the years. He would encourage them to join and, if already in, to stay in—especially if they liked the work they were doing. From Jim’s perspective, Veterans are now getting better care and benefits throughout their lives.

Professional and Personal Life

Jim and Natalie met while working at the same place: a dry cell battery shop. While they never met or ran into each other at work they did end up seeing each other for the first time after work when a friend of Jim's suggested he and Jim go out for a beer. Natalie walked into the bar with her sister and cousin and needed a place to sit. There was an opening at Jim’s table so everyone sat down together. It was the right time at the right place and five months later they were married! During their 65 years of marriage they raised three boys, one daughter who passed away shortly after birth, and one grandson that they adopted. Sadly, Natalie passed away in 2020.

Jim worked for the Idaho State Park system for 20 years. That opportunity came to pass when a civilian advised him to put in for a post-discharge job at the state or federal level. He applied for every opening, ranging from roads and parks to the sheep experiment station, an agricultural division focused on increasing production proficiency of domestic sheep. Jim’s perspective was, “Whoever calls me first is where I’m going.” When an individual from the Idaho Parks called and said, “How does it feel to be a Park Ranger?” Jim couldn’t believe he had landed a dream job. He retired from that role in 1997.

In his spare time, Jim volunteered with the Lions Club and American Legion. He and Natalie also raised Labrador Retrievers, selling them and training them as hunting dogs. Those animals were a big part of their life and Jim still has several photos of his beloved dogs displayed in his room.

Life Today at the Preston Veterans Home

Jim attended the Preston Veterans Home dedication ceremony in the summer of 2023; that emotionally moving day and tour of the newly-built Home convinced him that when the time came, he wanted to live here. “I had been receiving medical care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and wanted to live nearby to continue that relationship,” Jim recalled. “It’s been one year since I arrived, which is hard to believe.” Making the transition from his home in Atwater has been easy for him. “All the people are so nice that I just can’t get over it. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to live here and I have to pinch myself.”

At this stage of life, Jim says simply being around other Veterans and making connections with people from different backgrounds brings him great joy. “There is always someone to talk to about something. Every corner you turn, there is someone there.”

The Home’s team noted that Jim has made a true impact on the campus, both outdoors and indoors. Dave Dunn, Administrator, says Jim’s amazing green thumb has earned him the title of master gardener. “His consistent oversight, meticulous attention to detail and genuine passion for creating and maintaining a beautiful, peaceful environment, have transformed our flower beds and vegetable gardens into thriving spaces that enrich the lives of our Veterans, families, staff and visitors. Jim’s efforts are a daily reminder that excellence grows where commitment is planted."

Gabby Kinneberg, Public Relations and Volunteer Coordinator, added that Jim is always there to lend a hand to fellow Residents whenever they need one. "His camaraderie and overall caring spirit are really inspiring; they say a lot about his upbringing and the person that he is!"