James W. Caslick

(Jan. 1, 1928 - Oct. 14, 2018 )

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James W. Caslick, 90, died Oct. 14, 2018, at Powell Valley Care Center.

He was born on Jan. 1, 1928, to Bruce and Mary Tompkins Caslick in Dodds, Alberta, Canada. At the age of 10, he and his parents returned to the United States, settling in Newfield, New York, where Jim grew up. He graduated from Newfield Central School in 1945 and then he enlisted in the Army and was posted in Frankfort, Germany, at the headquarters of the Army of Occupation. After his honorable discharge in 1949, he enrolled at the University of Buffalo in New York, where he earned a bachelor of science in biology and a master of science in education.

In 1954, he married Edna Nielsen of Powell, whom he had met during his seasonal ranger work at Yellowstone National Park in 1951. They lived in Florida, where Jim worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in redwing blackbird control.  In 1974, Jim earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and remained there where he taught classes in wildlife management until he retired in 1986. After his retirement from Cornell, he returned to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park as a park ranger in the summers.

Following his retirement, Jim and his wife moved to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where he worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildlife damage consultant on federal lands in the Northwest. He and his wife began volunteering in Yellowstone National Park  and the Tetons during the winter season and they continued as volunteers for 18 years. 

Jim lived in Powell for the last 16 years, where he was an adjunct teacher at Northwest College in the biology department. He also operated a well-water testing business for home owners in Powell and Cody area.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years and his two sons, Glenn of Newfield, New York and Paul of Jacksonville, Florida; a sister, Virginia Slator of Newfield, New York; one brother-in-law, Norman Nielsen of Powell; one sister-in-law, Emma Morris of Seattle, Washington; and nieces and nephews.

Condolences can be sent to www.thompsonfuneral.net and memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

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