James (Jim) H. Wahl, 93, Ferdinand
James (Jim) H. Wahl, 93, of Ferdinand, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025, surrounded by family at Scenic Hills at the Monastery in Ferdinand.
Jim was born October 27, 1931, in Dale to Simon and Eleanor (Koenig) Wahl.
He married Doretha Klueh on July 31, 1954, in St. Ferdinand Church and they were married 70 years.
Jim was a 1949 graduate of Dale High School, where he was president of his Junior and Senior Classes and was a key member of the 1949 Dale Golden Aces basketball sectional championship team.
After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While stationed in Iceland, he taught basketball fundamentals to other sailors and Icelanders in his spare time. Following honorable discharge as a petty officer second class, he returned home to attend Evansville College under the GI Bill. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree and obtained his teaching certificate.
Jim taught math and driver’s education and coached at St. Ferdinand and Dale High Schools. He later obtained his master’s degree at Evansville College, took administrative courses at I.U. in Bloomington and earned his administrative license. He was the principal at Northeast Dubois High School for 25 years, from 1969 to 1994, until his retirement. He touched many lives as a teacher, coach, principal, mentor and friend.
He was a member of Christ the King Parish, St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, where he was a eucharistic minister and lector and served on the Parish Council. He was also a member of the Ferdinand American Legion Post 124 for 54 years and was selected for the Southern Indiana Honor Flight EVV9 in November 2017.
Jim was an original organizer of Little League Baseball in Ferdinand over 65 years ago, where he coached for 20 years. He was selected as a member of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Executive Committee and Board of Directors, serving two terms and one term as president. He was a long-time member of the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) and remained actively involved in their retirement community.
In retirement, he enjoyed playing horseshoes, gardening, repairing and refurbishing baseball gloves, and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his loving wife Doretha, children Paul (Martha) Wahl of Ferdinand, Kenneth (Mary) Wahl of Newburgh, Patrick (Kristi) Wahl of Evansville, Jane (Dennis) Whitsitt of Duff, Thomas (Tammy) Wahl of Southport, and Nicholas (Corrine) Wahl of Indianapolis; 16 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Jim was the last surviving member of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Cornelius, Mike, Victor (Vic), Sylvester (Hoke), Bernard (Shug), Paul, and Jean; and eight sisters, Elfreda Gentry, Salome Heilers, Georgetta Royalty, Marie and Katherine Wahl (twins), Elizabeth (Bets) Walter, Martina (Marty) Fischer, and Francis (Fanny) Young.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. EDT in St. Ferdinand Church. Burial with military services by Ferdinand Legion Post 124 will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. EDT and on Tuesday from 7:00 until 9:30 a.m. EDT at Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Ferdinand Parish or Sisters of St. Benedict.
Online condolences may be shared at www.becherfuneralhome.com.
