James R. Hallden

JAMES ROBERT HALLDEN, 77

James Robert Hallden, 77 of Rockford, Illinois delivered his final piece of mail and joined our Lord in Heaven on Monday, April 24, 2017. “Jim” spent 35 years delivering mail to the greater Rockford area. Rain, sleet or snow, Jim would go; on foot to deliver mail to the masses. His love of all things postal service was deeply engrained into his life. When speaking to him about cities and towns you were visiting, Jim was quick to tell you the zip code and local weather for the area. After 35 years of dedication to the United States Postal Service, Jim retired with his late wife, Judith (Bjur) Hallden and traveled the United States from Texas to Washington D.C., visiting each and every war memorial and battleground that existed. Jim’s great love for our Nation’s history evolved into such a vast knowledge, that he could have taught history to any person he met.
Jim devoted his life to our Lord, volunteering as a Pastor and traveling to local retirement homes and church functions with his wife. He delivered sermons, prayers and songs to those who needed him. Love is what encompassed Jim’s life. His love for the Lord, his love for history and above all, his love for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With vibrant, lake blue eyes and a mischievous grin, he always had a wisecrack joke or a funny pun to lighten the mood.
Jim’s life has been full of love, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beautiful memories that he will take with him to heaven to be with his loving wife, Judi and several family members who left this world before him. Jim’s legacy flows on, throughout our lives and will remain near and dear to us in the future.
Jim is survived by his children: Dawn Marie Decker (Hallden), Robert Charles Hallden, Michelle (Shelley) Lynn Hayes (Hallden), James Wayne (Paula) Hallden and Heidi Lee Trembly (Hallden). Grandchildren: Blair Lynn Hayes, Theresa Marie (Jason) Grimmett, James Wayne Hallden JR, Matthew Charles Decker, Meriah Andrea Hallden, Jacob Andrew Hallden, Destinee Hallden. Great-Grandchildren: Emilee Lynn Fisher, Johnathan Eric Matthew Grimmett, Steven Hallden, Harley Allen Grimmett, Ziary Hallden, Michael Leon Grimmett, Ailyn Ortiz, Matthew Charles David Decker, Dillan Allen Decker, Mia Hallden and former wife, Joy Simms-Hallden.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Mulford Road followed by a small fellowship service to be held at 11:15 AM in the Café Hall of Temple Baptist Church on East State Street.
In lieu of flowers, an account has been set up in his honor at PNC Bank for James Robert Hallden.