James Rudolph “Jim” MacDougal was born in Portage, WI on Aug. 10, 1929 to Bernard and Elsie (Radtke) MacDougal. Jim graduated from Portage High School in 1947, enlisted in the Navy the following year, and later received a degree in Bacteriology from U.W. Madison. He married Virginia Field in 1954, to whom he remained married for over 68 years. Jim celebrated his 93rd birthday with family this past August 10th, and passed away peacefully a few weeks later on Aug. 31, 2022. He was making jokes until the end.
Jim is survived by his wife Virginia (Field), daughter Julie of Hastings, MN, son Scott (Jody) of Fox Lake, IL, and son David (Rebeccah) of Minnetonka, MN; grandchildren Christy, Cailin, Erin, Kelly, Lauren and James; brother Frank (Paulette). He was preceded in death by his daughter Christy, sister Donna, and many other friends and family.
After marrying Virginia, the couple moved to Hillsboro, WI. Jim bought Township Bowl in 1958, and ran the business for 9 years—in the process becoming an excellent bowler. He moved to Prairie du Chien in 1967 to take a job as Executive Director of the Crawford County USDA of昀ce (ASCS). While raising his kids, Jim always had a hobby or two going— Labrador retriever training, horses & trail riding, hunting (duck, goose, pheasant, deer, turkey), beekeeping, and retriever training (again).
He retired from the USDA in 1990, and he and Virginia immediately hit the road in a 昀fth wheel RV. They sold their home, and began a joyful 9-year adventure, crisscrossing the US as fulltime RVers. Jim was a people person, and during those vagabond years he befriended many! Jim and Virginia then became snowbirds, summers in the Twin Cities area, and wintering in Arizona. Jim loved his volunteer work in hospitals in both Hastings MN and Scottsdale AZ. Jim’s friends and family will miss his easy way with people, his ready laugh, and his ability to 昀nd humor in almost every situation. His immediate family will be gathering in Prairie du Chien in 2023 to bury his ashes and commemorate his life. Further information is available from Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, Hastings, MN (https://www.hastingsmnfuneral. com/
