James (Jim) Leonard Clemen

James "Jim" Clemen, 91, passed away peacefully into heaven on October 19, 2026, in Olympia, Washington, surrounded by his loving family following a courageous battle with cancer.

Jim was born on August 28, 1935, in Ipswich, South Dakota, the 14th of 18 children born to Henry P. Clemen and Anna (Beshlich). In 1944, his family left their South Dakota farm and traveled by troop train to Seattle, Washington—a journey the children fondly remembered for the chocolate bars shared with them by traveling soldiers.

Growing up in Seattle, Jim was incredibly industrious and deeply woven into the local community from a young age. While attending grade school, he managed an impressive three paper routes simultaneously—delivering The Seattle Star, then became The Seattle Times, and two weekly shopping news publications. On Saturdays, he could be found hawking papers directly on the bustling corner of 23rd and Jackson Street in Seattle. Jim's strong work ethic showed early, and he always managed to keep money in his pocket.

During these formative neighborhood years, Jim and his brothers also shared their love of sports with a five-year-old local boy who lived nearby: future Chicago Cubs baseball legend and hall-of-famer Ron Santo. Jim and his brothers proudly taught young Ron how to play the game of baseball right there in Seattle.

Jim went on to attend St. Mary’s Grade School and O'Dea High School before graduating from Seattle University with a degree in Accounting. He also proudly served his country in the Army ROTC from 1954 to 1962.

On February 4, 1961, Jim married the love of his life, Betty, at St. John’s Church in Seattle. This year marks 65 wonderful years of them being together.

They built a beautiful life centered on family, faith, and service, eventually settling in Olympia where they resided for 54 years.

While putting himself through college, Jim worked the night shift at Boeing building parts for planes.  After earning his accounting degree, he was promoted to Boeing's finance section as a supervisor. He also gained early experience working at J. Jacobs, Society Candy, and City Light.

In 1970, amid the historic Seattle aerospace downturn, Jim transitioned to public service, moving his family to Olympia to join the Highways Department (now the Washington State Department of Transportation). Over a dedicated 30-year career with the department, Jim rose through the ranks to retire in 1999 as the Assistant Secretary of Finance for WSDOT.

As he grew older, Jim an exceptionally gifted handyman who could fix almost anything. He particularly enjoyed rescuing old Ford Falcons.  After Retirement He and Betty became familiar faces at area garage and estate sales, hunting down unique items to fill their dedicated mall spaces and antique shows.

Above all else, Jim cherished his outdoor family traditions, most notably camping at Rainbow Falls State Park during the annual Clemen family reunions. He was also a passionate sports fan who remained a fiercely loyal supporter of his home teams, enthusiastically rooting for the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, and the University of Washington Huskies, alongside his deep lifelong fandom for Notre Dame football.

Known for his remarkable discipline, Jim stayed active by setting a daily goal of 10,000 steps, which later grew to an incredible 20,000 steps recorded on his Fitbit. He wore out three NordicTrack machines and ellipticals, fixing them himself when they broke. In retirement, he stayed busy helping his daughter Julie manage Little Paws Boarding, acting as the chief maintenance man, weedwhacker, "Mr. Fixit," and mower for the 2.5-acre property. This active lifestyle helped carry him to 91 vibrant years, always credited to the Lord's help.

A Legacy of Faith and Charity. Jim's deep Catholic faith guided his entire life. He and Betty opened their home to St. Michael's teenagers for religious education. He served on the Finance Committee for St. Michael Parish under Father Tracey and Father Michael Ryan.

Jim's support for underdogs drew him to volunteer with AARP, coordinating free tax help for seniors in the early 2000s. For two decades, he also spent his time as the dedicated volunteer "shopper" for the Wednesday Catholic Community Kitchen lunch meal. Inspired by their remote missionary work serving Alaska Native communities across 409,949 square miles, Jim became a profound supporter of the Catholic Diocese in Northern Alaska. Many of the parishes and missions rely heavily on grants and donations. Inspired by their work, Jim began supporting them. Jim's deep Catholic faith brought him peace in all he did and confidence in the future. In the end with his family at his side, Jim Passed peacefully into heaven.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Betty Clemen; his son, Matt Clemen (Susan); his daughters, Julie Clemen and Debbie Clemen (Tom); and his sisters, Helen Yelle and Pat Higgins. He is also survived by 68 nieces and nephews, alongside a massive, loving extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anna, and his siblings: Lawrence, Martin, Margaret, Mary, Agnes, LeRoy, Dorothy, Catherine, Evelyn, Mark, Hank, Louis, Dennis, Melvin, and Ray.

Services & Memorial Donations A funeral service will be held on October 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM at St. Michael Parish, located at 1208 11th Ave SE, Olympia, WA. It will also be live streamed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to causes close to Jim's heart:

• O'Dea High School (Seattle, WA)
• Catholic Diocese (Proceeds benefit the historical missions of Northern Alaska)
  • Address: 1316 Peger Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709-5199
  • Online: cbna.org