Jim Wallace Naegeli
Jim Wallace Naegeli of Meridian, Idaho, passed away on Monday December 5, 2022 with his wife by his side.
Jim was born May 14, 1954 to Wallace Fred Naegeli and Patricia (Ferreira) Naegeli in San Diego, CA. He was the 2 nd of two children. He grew up in Lemon Grove and El Cajon, California. Jim spoke lovingly of his childhood, comparing it often to The Cleaver’s from the Leave it to Beaver television program. He was greatly loved and enjoyed spending lots of time with his Dad in the boy scouts, building projects, playing games with neighbor kids after dinner. He adored his parents and couldn’t say enough wonderful things about them.
Jim graduated from Granite Hills High School in 1972 and then set off for college, graduating from San Diego State University in 1976 with a BA in Art. He didn’t want to be a starving artist and settled on finding work in the advertising world. He applied for and was hired by Jim Crouch, founding partner of Design Group West. That was Jim’s first and only job. He worked there for more than 30 years, working his way up from designer to partner to owner. He was extremely talented and well liked and known for his logo designs for SDSU, USD, Del Mar Race Track, KPBS Radio and many others.
Jim and Michele Wegman married on October 8, 1994. They moved to Encinitas, California that same year. They couldn’t have children so decided to adopt. They brought Ian Javanni Naegeli home on December 7, 1999. Three years later, they brought Isabella Gabrielle Naegeli home on September 10, 2002. Jim loved being a Dad and spent many years creating memories at Disneyland, Legoland, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, camping, traveling, swimming, looking for sea creatures in the local tide pools and of course, time in the garden. He spent 11 years in the Ecke Y’s Adventure Guide program, first with Ian and then with Bella. Life long friendships were made while exploring the many campgrounds in Southern California.
Jim had many hobbies but spent countless hours painting, gardening and playing guitar. Jim was well known and admired in the art community of San Diego for his graphic design work, but to his friends and family, he was another Monet. His paintings and drawings filled our home and were awe inspiring to gaze on. His favorite is a painting of a group in prayer. It brought a sense of peace and comfort to our home. He loved puttering in the backyard. The feel of the earth in his hands was very therapeutic and made him feel close to God. Jim owned two acoustic guitars and excelled in playing pieces by Henry Purcell and Erik Satie. We never tired of hearing the sweet sounds.
Every morning, Jim did the New York Times crossword puzzle and later, added online jigsaw puzzles to his routine. He loved old TCM movies, all kinds of music but was especially fond of The Beatles, Frank Zappa, The Doors, Thomas Dolby, Eric Clapton, and Donovan, just to name a few. Jim was well traveled, visiting London and Canada in his teens, then Portugal and Ireland with Michele. Road trips were a staple in the Naegeli family and enabled Jim to share his love of nature with Michele and kids in Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada’s, and all up and down the California west coast. There were also many trips to the east coast to visit family in Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.
Jim did much volunteer work throughout his life. He was a member of the North Coast Y Service Club, serving 4 years as Vice President and then 4 years as President. He also spent years volunteering his graphic design skills to the Aqua Hedionda Foundation and the Salt and Light Council. Jim was a member of Seacoast Community Church in Encinitas and then, when retiring and moving to Meridian, ID in 2020, joined The Pursuit Church in Boise, ID. He took great comfort in reading the Bible and learning about God. Those teachings, his life group, and his strong faith and trust in Jesus were instrumental in bringing him peace in the past year.
Jim, honey, my dahling, Dad, DaDa, DaddyO, Uncle Jim, and Jimbo, as he was affectionately known, will be greatly missed and always remembered for his brilliant smile, twinkling eyes, belly laugh, warm hugs, sharp wit, amazing memory and great love for God, his wife, kids, family and friends.
Jim is survived by the love of his life, his wife Michele Wegman, Meridian, ID, his treasured children Ian Naegeli, US Navy Sailor, Norfolk VA, and Isabella Naegeli, Meridian ID, his nephew Wayne Hebert and wife Kathleen, their children Tyler and Gavin, El Cajon, CA, and his niece Emily Koop (Hebert) and husband John Koop, Lakeside, CA, and niece Megan Hebert, Lakeside, CA.
We wish to thank the nurses and doctors at St Luke’s Cancer Center for their tireless devotion to Jim’s care. Additionally, thank you St Luke’s Hospice for your angels of mercy who lovingly and respectfully cared for Jim and his family.
A memorial service will be held Monday, December 19, 2022, at 11:00 am at The Pursuit Church, 6151 N Discovery Pl., Boise, ID 83713. To attend the service virtually, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/michele.wegman.1?mibextid=LQQJ4d
In lieu of flowers, we suggest donating to The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption or Feeding America.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.