James Joseph Haggerty Sr.

James Joseph Haggerty Sr., known to his family and friends as Jim, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2026, just one day before his 97th birthday. His wife, Pat, and many of his family and friends welcomed him in heaven.

Jim was born in Butte, Montana. He grew up there, surrounded by a large extended family. He was especially close to his brother Jack. The two were always together, “palling around” as brothers do. Jim loved telling stories about growing up in Montana, including getting into mischief in the neighborhood, fighting off dogs (and a rooster) on the walk to school, sleeping outside in the backyard in freezing weather, and more. At 15, Jim’s family moved to San Francisco. He attended Sacred Heart High School and worked part-time at Pacific Bell. After graduating high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the occupation Army in Germany. He enjoyed his time there, the food, his job repairing radios, and palling around with other soldiers (made lifelong friends). When he returned home to San Francisco, he resumed working at Pacific Bell while attending the University of San Francisco (making more lifelong friends).

During Jim’s high school years, he attended a dance at the Dolphin Club, SF. He was on a double date with his best friend Bob Adamis (and Marian). Across the dance floor, he heard loud laughter; he looked and saw a “beautiful redhead”. Jim was smitten; that was the beginning of a lifelong love story. After returning from the Army, Jim and Pat ran off to Carson City, Nevada, in 1953, where they married. They shared 70½ years together and built a loving family that became the center of Jim’s life. Together, they raised five children, and they eventually welcomed 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

During their life together, Jim and Pat lived in many places: San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Jose, transferred to New Jersey, back to the Bay Area, Danville, Bob’s house in San Jose, and assisted living in Granite Bay. But a favorite spot was the cabin. In 1971, while vacationing with close friends, the Wileys, at their cabin in Cedar Ridge near Twain Harte, Jim bought an old cabin. He knocked out a couple of walls, built a new deck, and remodeled. It was a place the whole family shared and gathered. They made many memories there, and still do.

Jim loved to read. He was very intelligent. In his words, “he knew a lot about a little”. He was constantly fixing things: the car, a broken appliance. I can still hear him say, “Read the instructions”. Like his father, he could fix just about anything with some sheet metal, screws, baling wire, and glue.

Jim loved music. He and Pat would play music (loud) and sing along with the crooners, especially Bing Crosby. Jim shared that love of music with his grandchildren, who remember sitting on Papa Jim’s knee as he bounced them up and down and sang Ragtime Cowboy and Who Put the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder. Those songs remain a special part of their memories of him.

Jim leaves behind more than a family. His faith, strong values, work ethic, generosity, and love of family. Jim is an example of a life well lived. Jim and Pat’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will carry those lessons forward, along with the memories of his stories, his songs, his humor, and his unwavering presence in their lives.

Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pat, in 2024, and his daughter, Barbara Ellen Higgins (John), in 2012. He is survived by his children, Jim (Kathy), Bob (Laurie), Terry (Bob Oliver), and Irene; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Beth and Alice; sister-in-law, “Jack’s Pat”; brother-in-law Dave DeLucchi; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and a few lifelong friends.  Jim will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

A Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 615 Vine Ave., Roseville, CA 95678. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 a.m. Jim will be laid to rest with military honors at noon at Calvary Cemetery, 7101 Verner Avenue, Citrus Heights, CA 95621.