Elon J. (Jim) DeSmith passed away January 9, 2025 at Orchard Hills Assisted Living after a brief illness.

Jim was born May 20, 1933 to Elon O. & Dorothy (Rasmussen) DeSmith and grew up on the family farm in Rush River township in St Croix county.     He graduated Baldwin High School and attended college in River Falls.  While in college he met his future wife Barbara Palewicz and they were married in 1955.   In 1958 he joined the Army and worked building roads and bridges in South Korea.  Upon his return home he went to work for the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation retiring in 1993.

He and Barbara had two children James (Joe) and Jill.  As their children were growing up, he and his wife were leaders of a local Camp Fire Girls group taking the neighbor girls camping, canoeing, and cross country skiing.   His wife Barb, passed away in 1986.  After his retirement, he helped out at his daughter's and son-in-laws business as an inventory control and solitaire game specialist.

He is survived by his children James (Joe) Desmith (wife, Lisa) Hastings, MN  and daughter Jill Kubiak ( husband, Michael) Eau Claire, grandchildren Felicia DeSmith, Barbara DeSmith, (& their mother Maria Knudson) Sara Kubiak, Steven Kubiak, step grandchildren Sidney Millard & Samantha Millard.

Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday January 15th at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (1120 Cedar Street), Eau Claire, WI, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church.

The family would like to thank the staff of Orchard Hills along with the nurses of St Croix Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the charity of your choice.