James Arthur Lau, 67, was born February 5, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He died October 25, 2013 at his home in Eagle, Idaho. Jim grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the second of the three boys of Leonard Lau and Marie Wellberg Lau. He attended school in the Minnetonka area, graduating from Hopkins High School in 1964, and attended the University of Minnesota for one year. On October 5, 1965, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS Goodrich and was later assigned to the Naval Reconnaissance and Technical Support Center in Washington, DC. He was honorably discharged from active duty on May 5, 1969. Nineteen days later on May 24, 1969, in Falls Church, Virginia, Jim was married to Linda Falconburg formerly of Jerome, Idaho. Jim received the degree of Bachelor of Science with High Honors from the University of Maryland on June 3, 1972. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, The National Accounting Fraternity Beta Alpha Psi, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. On February 2, 1973, he was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant by the State of Maryland, and became a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants on September 12, 1973. Jim began his business career with the public accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst in Washington, D.C., then became Director of Corporate Accounting for Marriott Corporation, followed by a brief period as Chief Financial Officer of the Oxford Development Corporation. But a momentous experience occurred during Jim's first year of marriage – his wife took him to meet her family in Idaho and he fell in love again. Not with her family (although that would come later) but with the places they visited: Alturas Lake, the Wood River, Magic Reservoir, and the Treasure Valley. In 1988, Jim and Linda sold their house in Maryland, packed their possessions, and headed west.
Jim found a perfect job fit when he was hired by David Beach of Mid Mountain Data Systems in Boise. They worked together to expand the company and cried together when the company closed at the turn of the century. Jim then served as Chief Financial Officer of Jackson Food Stores for a short time before joining the Idaho Department of Fish and Game as Chief of Administration. This position afforded Jim the opportunity to explore Idaho. From Hells Canyon to Salmon to Coeur d'Alene to City of Rocks he visited many of the F&G regions and made friends along the way. Jim retired from Fish and Game in 2012.
Jim and Linda served as host family to 17 Boise Hawks baseball players from 1995 to 2009. They attended nearly all the Hawks home games and traveled to many games at other stadiums in the Northwest League. Jim served as president of the Boise Hawks Booster Club from 1998 to 2000. Jim loved to play golf and spent many hours taking advantage of the opportunity to be outdoors in beautiful settings. Jim and Linda learned to play duplicate bridge and traveled to several tournaments in Idaho and other western states. After his retirement, Jim took some classes in mosaics and created beautiful artwork.
Greg Wilson
James Arthur Lau, 67, was born February 5, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He died October 25, 2013 at his home in Eagle, Idaho.
Jim grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the second of the three boys of Leonard Lau and Marie Wellberg Lau. He attended school in the Minnetonka area, graduating from Hopkins High School in 1964, and attended the University of Minnesota for one year. On October 5, 1965, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy. He served aboard the USS Goodrich and was later assigned to the Naval Reconnaissance and Technical Support Center in Washington, DC. He was honorably discharged from active duty on May 5, 1969. Nineteen days later on May 24, 1969, in Falls Church, Virginia, Jim was married to Linda Falconburg formerly of Jerome, Idaho.
Jim received the degree of Bachelor of Science with High Honors from the University of Maryland on June 3, 1972. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, The National Accounting Fraternity Beta Alpha Psi, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. On February 2, 1973, he was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant by the State of Maryland, and became a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants on September 12, 1973.
Jim began his business career with the public accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst in Washington, D.C., then became Director of Corporate Accounting for Marriott Corporation, followed by a brief period as Chief Financial Officer of the Oxford Development Corporation. But a momentous experience occurred during Jim's first year of marriage – his wife took him to meet her family in Idaho and he fell in love again. Not with her family (although that would come later) but with the places they visited: Alturas Lake, the Wood River, Magic Reservoir, and the Treasure Valley. In 1988, Jim and Linda sold their house in Maryland, packed their possessions, and headed west.
Jim found a perfect job fit when he was hired by David Beach of Mid Mountain Data Systems in Boise. They worked together to expand the company and cried together when the company closed at the turn of the century. Jim then served as Chief Financial Officer of Jackson Food Stores for a short time before joining the Idaho Department of Fish and Game as Chief of Administration. This position afforded Jim the opportunity to explore Idaho. From Hells Canyon to Salmon to Coeur d'Alene to City of Rocks he visited many of the F&G regions and made friends along the way. Jim retired from Fish and Game in 2012.
Jim and Linda served as host family to 17 Boise Hawks baseball players from 1995 to 2009. They attended nearly all the Hawks home games and traveled to many games at other stadiums in the Northwest League. Jim served as president of the Boise Hawks Booster Club from 1998 to 2000. Jim loved to play golf and spent many hours taking advantage of the opportunity to be outdoors in beautiful settings. Jim and Linda learned to play duplicate bridge and traveled to several tournaments in Idaho and other western states. After his retirement, Jim took some classes in mosaics and created beautiful artwork.
Dave Seal
Nice obit, Greg. Jimmy was a smart guy, especially in math. Glad he found solace in Idaho.