More detail on this person: Julius James Tresley Jim Tresley, formally known as Julius James Tresley, was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota to Ben and Rena Tresley. Jim lived in Sturgis, South Dakota and his parents divorced when he was approximately 2 years old. His older brother Charles left with their father for California where his father worked with polo horses for most of his life and Jim was bounced around between his mother and grandmother until his beloved grandmother passed away. Then he moved to Everett, Washington to live with his father's sister Aunt Adeline and Uncle Guy. Then back to live with his brother Charles and his father in Lawndale, California. They moved around southern California a lot until his brother moved out and joined the military. Jim started supporting himself around age 16 and worked grooming show horses. The last stop on the show circuit was Bakersfield where Jim's boss knew that Aunt Adeline and Uncle Guy lived. Jim was fired and encouraged to finish High School at Bakersfield High School where he won many medals on the diving team and enlisted in the Navy reserve. Jim took a course or two in college then enlisted in the Navy and served 4 years and spent a tour of duty in the Korean War. Jim's last station was in Hawthorne, Nevada and settled there for several years. He was married for a few years and had a son Eric and a daughter Elaine. He worked his way up to manager for Safeway Stores and met the love of his life, Dee. In 1959 they moved to Sparks where they raised their 3 children, Pam, Mark and Jimmy. Jim was always passionate about flying and received his private airplane license while still in Hawthorne. In 1964 after the Stead Air force Base opened a flying academy he enrolled in the helicopter and fixed wing flying course, his love was flying helicopters. When he completed the course, Jim enlisted in the United States Army. He spent two tours of duty in Vietnam. After the first tour he was stationed in Baumholder, Germany where he met and flew for General Harry Heistand. The second time he was deployed to Vietnam it was at the request of General Heistand he was ordered to stay an extra month to personally pilot the helicopter for General Heistand. Jim was one of the last Army aviators out of Vietnam at the end of that war. The decorations and medals Jim received for his service were the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal W/V Device and the 24th Award, Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal w/1 Silver and 1 Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Silver Star and Palm, Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class, 4 Over Sea Service Bars, Senior Army Aviator Badge. Jim loved serving his country flying helicopters in the US Army. The only thing he was truer to was his family. After the loss of their son Mark in a tragic drowning accident in Fort Benning, Georgia, Jim felt it best to move his family back to Sparks to be near the extended family for emotional support. Jim resigned from the Army in 1975. After that he worked for Boomtown for over 20 years as purchasing director. No matter what he did, he did it with the utmost honesty and integrity to the best of his ability. Jim's family was his heart and soul. He was always there to encourage his children to get their educations and was committed to raising them with the same honesty, integrity and discipline that he had. He supported them emotionally in whatever direction their hearts led them and he was truly respected for his wisdom. That great support and generosity continued to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Whether it be giving them money for their good grades, supporting them at every sporting event or school function, teaching them to ride horses, taking them fishing or to profession wrestling matches, he was always there cheering them on and spending the time to show them that what they did mattered. He was so filled with pride, not with what he did but with who his family was. He continually spoke about how blessed he was with the family he had. Jim and Dee have been members of Sparks Christian Fellowship for over 20 years, have enjoyed being part of many Bible Study Classes. They were also members of Christian Motorcycle Association and after the loss of their Grandson Brian Pierce, he became a founding member of Alliance for Victim's Rights and was a voice for survivors and contributed to many projects and events.
Burial information: Mountain View Cemetery, Reno, NV
This information was last updated 09/17/2020
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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