James “Jim” William Stahoviak passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, December 15, 2024  with his family beside him. He was born on February 11, 1933 to William and Vohn Stahoviak in Gary, Indiana.   

Jim graduated from Griffith High School in Griffith, Indiana in 1951. He served in the US Army at 10th Field Hospital in Germany, where he toured Europe on every pass. When he returned home, Jim and his dad started Floraland Nursery and Garden Center, which became a thriving business.  

On January 3, 1959, Jim married Jacqueline Bellamy.  Instead of a fancy ring, Jim bought a travel trailer for Jackie and they vacationed in the Florida Keys.   Together they built a life full of fun and adventures. Jim built dune buggies that they both raced – and won.  Jim loved boats and learned to sail after buying his first sailboat. When fishing he had a knack for catching the big ones when nobody else was getting a bite.  

Jim and his family moved to the Pine Snag community in Heber Springs, Arkansas in 1973. He learned the ins and outs of farming with the help of neighbors. Over the years, they had cattle, then sold hay.  When he reached retirement age, Jim announced he was going to sell everything that wasn’t fun; however, his days were filled with helping friends and neighbors.  

Jim was well known for being able to fix anything and everything. He had a talent for improvising and could fix many things without having to order a special part. You could bet if he built it or fixed it, it would last. His family liked to call him a wizard because he could do everything and have the right answer for every question. Jim went above and beyond to help all people, those he knew and many that he didn’t.  

PeePaw, as he was known to many, loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a prankster and got a big kick out of playing jokes on them. Some of the best times with PeePaw were spent fishing or working on the farm, and he took pride in passing his knowledge along to his kids.  

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Barbara Gates.  

Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jackie. His final years were spent exactly where he wanted to be – at home – because of her loving care. He was often heard saying, “How did I get this lucky?” 

He is also survived by his children, Jeff Stahoviak and Sally (Don) Kurjan; grandchildren Justin (Jennifer) Haile, Adam (Jessie) Haile, Ashley (Bobby) Rogers, Jessica Hill (Eric Mirto), Kai Stahoviak and Nathan Kurjan. He will be greatly missed by his 11 great grandchildren and his nieces and nephews.  

The family is comforted knowing he is with our Savior.  

On Saturday, December 21st  at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church visitation will be at 1:00 followed by a memorial service at 2:00.  

The family would like to thank Sharon Neighbours and Arkansas Hospice for their exceptional care.  

Arrangements by Heber Springs Funeral Home.