Obituary of James Michael Maple

James (Jim) was born in Oregon City, Oregon on September 4, 1960 and passed away in Milwaukie, Oregon on October 5, 2011 after battling a Glioma Astrocytoma brain tumor for 6 years. MSGT James Maple retired in 2001, after serving 20 years in the United States Air Force. Jim enlisted in the Air Force in December 1980 and entered active duty in March 1981. Upon completion of basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in April 1981, he began technical training as an aircraft structural repair specialist at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. Immediately following training he was assigned to the 5th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota from August 1981-February 1983. He then received an assignment to the 435th Airlift Wing, Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, where he served from February 1983 to February 1986. In February 1986 he was selected for a special duty assignment to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where he helped bring the F-117A aircraft on-line and into the Air Force inventory. In February 1989, Sergeant Maple was transferred to Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where he was assigned to the 92nd Wing. In June 1993, he began his tour with the 374th Maintenance Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan where he was appointed as Metals Technology Superintendent. His last tour was started in July 1997 with the 354th Maintenance Squadron , there he served as the 354th Structural Maintenance Superintendent and 354th Maintenance Squadron Production Superintendent, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Jim also had temporary duty assignments to Italy, Georgia, USA, Korea and Jim’s Major awards and decorations included: 1984 NCO Preparatory John Levitow Award 1991 Strategic Air Command Master Evaluator/Inspector 1994 374th Maintenance Squadron NCO/Year 1995 374th Maintenance Squadron NCO/Year 1995 PACAF Maintenance Professional/Year 1999 354th Fighter Wing Maintenance Professional of the Year Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leave cluster Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster While in Germany Jim was sent on a number of temporary duty assignments, one was back to the states in Georgia, another to Italy. He vacationed in Austria where he learned to ski. After his stint in Germany he came home and met a girl he had gone to school with. He and Kathy Young were married while Jim was stationed in Nevada at Nellis AFB. They had two girls who got to experience life at Jim’s next assignment at Fairchild AFB in Washington. They were then transferred to Yokota AFB in Japan just outside Tokyo. They did a lot of exploring while in Japan and really got to know the Japanese people. They were not far from Tokyo and got to visit the Japanese Disney Land as well as having other adventures. After that they were transferred to North Pole, Alaska, where Jim was stationed at Eielson AFB. This was a real change when soon after they arrived they were warned of a bear in the neighborhood and at Halloween the girls were trick or treating in the snow. The activities in Alaska were new and exciting. Jim taught the girls to ski, they went to ice hockey games, they went sled riding, pulled by their own dog, Salcha and invested in a couple of 4-wheelers. There were long winter nights and long summer days, and some very cold winter nights and days. After retiring from the Air Force Jim worked for the Fish and Game Department in Alaska. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved Alaska. Jim enjoyed the outdoors and Alaska was the perfect place for him to finish his military career. His family in the lower 48 loved hearing stories about the bear, moose, fishing, clamming, caribou and other wildlife he pursued. Jim was born to Darrell and Patricia Maple. He is survived by two daughters, Nikki (Dan) Kloepfer of Fairbanks, Alaska, Tara (Ryan) Gilman of Yamhill, Oregon, his sister, Cindy Maple and brother Bob Maple (Terri) of Milwaukie Oregon, grandson Torin Kloepfer of Fairbanks and his mother, Patricia Maple of Milwaukie, niece Erica Maple and nephew Josh Blacker Milwaukie. Jim was preceded in death by his son, James Michael Maple, Jr. and his father, Darrell Maple. Memorial Service has been held. Private interment at Willamette National Cemetery.