James B. "Jim" Moritz, 76 of Garretson, formerly of Faulkton, passed away after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson's disease Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Ava's Hospice House in Sioux Falls.
Funeral services were at 11:00 A.M., Monday, December 8, 2025, at Our Savior Lutheran in Faulkton with Pastor LeShea Avery presiding. Burial was at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at South Dakota Veteran's Cemetery in Sioux Falls. A prayer service was held at 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 6, 2025at the church with visitation one hour prior.
James B. "Jim" Moritz was born July 1, 1949, in Watertown to Bert and Helen (Condit) Moritz of Clark, S.D. He was baptized and confirmed at Plymouth Congregational Church in Clark. He grew up in the print shop of the Clark County Courier, starting as the janitor sweeping the floors, then sweeping up the Linotype lead filings and eventually graduating to running the newspaper letter press and doing commercial job work.
Jim graduated from Clark High School in 1967 and enrolled at South Dakota State University in Brookings, majoring in printing management and history. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1970, where he served at Bentwaters R.A.F. in England. He was honorably discharged after three-and-a-half years and returned to SDSU to finish his college degree. He graduated in 1975 with a B.S. in history and returned to Clark to join the family business.
On December 18, 1976, he married C. Jody Messer at St. Paul Lutheran in Clark. The family corporation purchased the Faulk County Record in Faulkton in October 1977, and Jim and Jody moved there to operate the newspaper. The couple were married for nearly 49 years and had a strong relationship that modeled kindness, generosity and love for all who knew them.
Son Garrick was born to the happy couple in 1980, and son Paul was born in 1984. Between them, they gave Jim six grandchildren.
Jim retired in 2015 after 38 years of ownership, selling the Record to longtime employee Val Ramsdell. For the next 10 years he happily traveled, golfed and visited his grandchildren. His children and grandchildren were the light of his life; he would do what he could to play with, interact with and show his love for them.
Jim was very involved in the Faulkton community. He was a longtime member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Faulkton, a 40-plus year member of the Faulkton Area Lions Club, a member of the Faulkton Business and Professional Association for many years and a member of the Foncannon American Legion Post #102 for more than 40 years. From 1978 to 2015, he never missed a Memorial Day program. Jim was a longtime member of the Faulk County Historical Society and Faulkton Area Arts Council and served as president of Lakeside Country Club, where he was an avid golfer and scored a hole in one on #4. While operating the Faulk County Record, he attended every Faulkton High School graduation, hundreds of board meetings and many other school events.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jody; son Garrick (Carrie) Moritz and their children Morgan (Emily) Mortiz and Leif Moritz; son Paul (Alex) Moritz and their children Isaac Tuey, Liam Tuey, Mason Moritz and Simon Moritz; and siblings: Jane (John) Andrich, David (Marlys) Moritz and Ann (Dennis) Kelly; and adopted son and cousin Benny Floden.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Helen Moritz; parents-in-law Marv and Blanche Messer; and FS brother, Wolf Wagner.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Jim's arrangements. (www.luceluzereck.com)
