James Doyle Fitzgerald, age 79, of Yankton, SD and formerly of Lesterville, died Tuesday morning, May 10, 2011, at the Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Friday, May 13, 2011 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD with Military Graveside Rites by the American Legion Post #12. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Thursday, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Pallbearers include: Jim Koenig, Russ Weller, Mike Fitzgerald, Matt Fitzgerald, Dave Danilson and Andrey Danilson. Honorary Pallbearers include: Pam Tetzlaff, McKenzie Fitzgerald, Trevor Fitzgerald, Taryn Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Danilson, Sarah Danilson and Jeni Palmer.
Jim was born September 6, 1931 in Yankton, South Dakota to J. Claire and Verna (Huber) Fitzgerald. He graduated from Yankton High School and the University of South Dakota with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Following college he served two years in the United States Army.
He married Jean Pekas on January 19, 1957 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Lesterville, SD. Jim and Jean resided in Lesterville where he owned and operated an insurance agency, did tax preparation and was a real estate broker for 40 plus years. They moved to Yankton in 1999 and Jim retired shortly thereafter.
Jim's lifelong interest was sports, and in particular baseball, of which he was a player, a manager, an umpire, a league president, a commissioner, an honoree, a scorekeeper, and an announcer.
Jim's baseball recognitions and awards included: Played for the 1950 Lesterville Broncs State Championship Team; South Dakota Amateur Baseball "Hall of Fame", 1987; South Dakota Umpires Association "Hall of Fame", 1995; the Ralph Macy Baseball "Man of the Year", 1997; Lesterville Athletic Association Distinguished Service Award, 2000; and the Lesterville Athletic Association dedicated the new scoreboard in his honor in 2006.
He was a life-long New York Yankees fan and was able to see his beloved Yankees at Yankee Stadium with his family in 2000.
He served the Lesterville Athletic Association and was a key organizer for the association's events and fundraising from the 1970's to 2005. He was active in the South Central League, serving as Vice President and President. He also served the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association as a District 6 Commissioner.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the American Legion. He's been recognized as a 51-year member of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Scotland School Board, the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Board, and the Benedictine Foundation Board.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jean, of Yankton; his children, John and Jean Fitzgerald, Yankton; Jane Fitzgerald and her husband, Dave Danilson, Boone, Iowa; Drs. Jim and Sheila Fitzgerald, Dr. Jay and Kathy Fitzgerald of Yankton; 11 grandchildren, Pam (Andy) Tetzlaff, Mike (Carrie) Fitzgerald, Kristine Fitzgerald; Andrey and Aelita Danilson; McKenzie, Kelsey, Matthew Fitzgerald; Tanner, Trevor and Taryn Fitzgerald; three step-granddaughters, Elizabeth and Sarah Danilson and Jeni (Cody) Palmer; three great-grandchildren, Lily and Caleb Tetzlaff and Kinsley Fitzgerald. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law, several aunts, uncles and cousins.
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