James Ackert

Kerrville James Maier Ackert, 71 of Kerrville, Texas, passed away peacefully at Hilltop Village on Wednesday January 11, 2012 in the late afternoon after a courageous 15month battle with cancer.

Jim was born in Linton, North Dakota on October 23, 1940 to Howard and Ella Ackert, the only brother in a family with 3 sisters, Betty, Carole and Susan. Jim had 3 children with Laurine Jarvis Jamine, Bradley and Karina, all of whom live in Ottawa, Canada. He also has 2 granddaughters, Chloe and Remmy. Jim moved to Kerrville in 1984 and it was here that he met the love of his life, Sallie Chambless, with whom he spent 12 wonderful years. Jim is also survived by Sallies children April San Miguel of Corinth and Connor Briggs of Lake Dallas. Jims surviving sister Betty Scott, brotherinlaw, Winston Scott and his uncle, Gil Maier all live in Kerrville, Texas. He will be missed by his nieces and nephews and their families as well.

Jim was a skilled computer programmer, and although retired, he never stopped helping people with their computer issues. Jim loved to drive, and enjoyed many road trips and even became a professional bus driver. A clever wordsmith, he would keep his mind sharp with word games, puzzles, suduko, and knew many facts and details that were funny and useful to those he knew. Jim was humble in spirit, had a wonderful sense of humor and was always willing to try new things. Brotherinlaw Scott tells of a family vacation: quotJim was always the adventurous type and would try anything even if he wasnt very good at it. We had brought a Laser sailboat to the river in Sunlands, Washington, and when it was Jims turn to sail, he not only laid it down but turned it over and stuck the mast in the mud at the bottom. He had to swim to shore.quot This adventuresome spirit lasted to the end days of his life, as his friend Terry tells: quotLast Wednesday, I dropped Jim off at the radiology building at MD Anderson in Houston with a walker. He was to call me and meet me downstairs when he finished the CTscan. Instead, I got a call from a woman who said that in the interest of expediting his pick up, he had tried to take the walker down the escalator and tumbled down to the bottom. They finally brought an embarrassed Jim with a bruised butt out to the car.
quot
Jim was dedicated to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and was sober for the past 28 years. The people he met through AA were a huge support and he participated as a speaker, treasurer, volunteer, sponsor and more. Jim is remembered for being nonjudgmental, supportive and witty. An avid bowler on both the Wii and in the lanes, Jim stayed active in local leagues and events. He will be dearly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 4 PM, Saturday, January 14, 2012 in the Main Chapel of Kerrville Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. 830 8955111

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