James J. Condie

James J. Condie, 91, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on December 15, 2025, at his daughter Julie’s home in Mesa, Arizona.

He was born on October 26, 1934, in Pocatello, the second of five children born to James F. Condie and Phoebe Condie (Jones). He was born at home near the Portneuf River. For the first four years of his life, Jimmy lived in a railroad section car with his siblings while his father built their family home on West Alameda.

One of Jimmy’s favorite childhood activities was making his own stick horse from willows gathered near a local creek. He and his neighborhood friends rode their stick horses through the countryside pretending to be cowboys, and even took them to the local movie theater to watch westerns.

As a child and youth, Jimmy was active in sports at both school and home. Large and tall for his age, he won four of five events at his fifth-grade field day. In junior high, he earned MVP honors for seventh-grade football and later made the Pocatello High School varsity team as a sophomore running back. He also learned to box through the Boy Scouts and later participated in LDS Church basketball and softball teams. Jimmy was especially gifted in racquetball and was rarely beaten, even by his three sons.

Growing up in a house with five children was both fun and chaotic. There were many funny stories from events at the dinner table in the tiny kitchen, where Jimmy’s left-handedness often conflicted with his father’s right-handedness, culminating with a plate of food being dumped on Jimmy’s head. The children were all close and shared the memories of growing up together in the house, in the neighborhood, and in the LDS church.

Jimmy and his family frequently traveled to Malad, Idaho, to visit relatives, and he spent multiple summers working on his Uncle Marv’s farm there. He did chores, fed animals, and rode horses. He often said these were among his most cherished memories.

Jimmy served in the U.S. Army, 5th Infantry, during peacetime in Germany from 1956 to 1958 as an M-48 tank commander. He recalled driving tanks down Main Street in Nuremberg, Germany. During his service, he was awarded the Colonel’s Orderly seven times.

One of Jimmy’s greatest abilities was to work hard in life. At the young age of twelve, Jimmy started working for the Union Pacific Railroad, unloading cattle at the stockyards when midnight trains arrived. Throughout his life, he often held multiple jobs at once and learned valuable lessons from those he worked alongside. He would regularly lend his time and skill to friends to help build their houses or other projects. It was a priority for Jimmy to instill the value of hard work in his children and expected them to understand what was required to succeed in life.

His professional career spanned nearly 50 years with Union Pacific Railroad and Pacific Fruit Express, where he served as Laborer, Switchman, Fireman, Brakeman, and ultimately Conductor. In 1987, he was involved in a nationally reported head-on train collision in Nugget, Wyoming, while deadheading back to Pocatello.

In 1960, Jimmy met Gloria Gail Heileson of Idaho Falls. They dated and married in November of that year. Jimmy often drove to Idaho Falls to pick up Gloria in his fast black-and-white 1957 Chevy Impala. They settled in Pocatello, where they raised five children. Their marriage lasted 30 years. After the divorce, Jimmy welcomed a sixth child, Jamie Jolley-Condie, with his partner, Lana Jolley.

As a father, Jimmy was a dedicated provider who took pride in giving his family a comfortable home. Family life included camping trips to Redfish Lake, visits to Disneyland, and road trips to see friends, relatives, and unique destinations. He spent time with his sons at Scout camp, played sports with all of his children, and offered guidance and feedback on their athletic pursuits.

In his earlier years, Jimmy enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, playing basketball, and baseball. Later, he found pleasure in yard work, running, and playing racquetball at the local fitness center. In his final years, he enjoyed spending time at the Fort Hall Casino. He was a talented photographer and known for his excellent sense of humor. He will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Collene Gregory and Marilynn Henson; and his brother, Robert Condie. He is survived by his brother, Richard Condie; his children, Patrick and Kristin (Shuldlberg), Scott and Janette (Austin), Brad and Becca (Dibble), Holly and Masa (Tukuafu), Julie Duffin, and Jamie Jolley-Condie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 2:00 p.m. in the LDS Ward Cultural Hall at 5635 S. 2200 W., Taylorsville, Utah, 84129

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.