James "Jim" Craig Pfeifer

   James ‘Jim’ Craig Pfeifer, 70, of McCall, Idaho passed away on April 20, 2022 of natural causes. Jim was born in Piedmont, California on June 2, 1951. He played football, baseball, and basketball in high school, graduating in 1969, and was an Eagle Scout. After beginning his college education at the University of California, Davis, he went on to receive masters’ degrees in both forestry and business from the University of California, Berkeley. After finishing school, Jim briefly moved to Minnesota and then Washington before relocating to Idaho, where he would happily spend the rest of his life.

   While living and working in Boise, Jim had three children. However, even during his time there, he was drawn towards the mountains and McCall, where he had a cabin for a number of years. Jim was an avid outdoorsman and a passionate skier who wanted nothing more than to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the mountains and the solitude of nature. He spent many of his days taking his children camping and using his skis to find untouched powder in the Idaho mountains. 

   In 2011 he was finally able to move to McCall fulltime, building the house of his dreams along the Payette River just south of town. A few years ago, Jim was able to realize another lifelong dream of his when he purchased 80 acres of land outside of Council.  Affectionately called PDR, or Personal Distance Ranch, Jim embarked with his usual gusto on transforming the land into his own.  He spent as much time as he could there, building small cabins and transforming the forest around the property into a beautiful oasis.  In these places, alongside his two beloved dogs, he lived the life he always wanted to live; a peaceful existence surrounded by the mountains, trees, and wildlife that meant so much to him.

   He will be sorely missed by family and friends in McCall and Boise who were lucky enough to know him and have him in their lives.

   Jim is survived by his three sons: Evan James Pfeifer, Robert James Pfeifer and Frederick Scott Pfeifer, all of Boise.

   A casual celebration of Jim’s life is planned for Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 2 to 4 p.m. at his home on the river.

   In lieu of flowers, please consider donating, in Jim’s honor, to the Idaho Conservation League at https://www.idahoconservation.org/donate/

   Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

   Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.

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