Passed Away On: 2017-01-21 00:00:00
James Garland Dommert (Jim), a 46 year resident of San Benito County, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2017 at the age of 91. Born in Port Arthur, Texas on February 24, 1925 to the late Emil and Maude Dommert, Jim was raised in the panhandle of Texas until his family settled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country along the Guadalupe River. In 1941, at the age of 16 and with his parent's approval, he enlisted in the Navy three days after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He completed basic training on a ship and arrived one month after the attack. His naval career spanned 19 years, numerous continents and multiple battles during the Pacific theatre. Aboard the cruiser U.S.S. Minneapolis, Jim participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea, escorted the U.S.S. York during the battle of Midway, Tassaforonga and the Guadalcanal Campaign of 1942. Later he was reassigned to the carrier U.S.S. Coral Sea and finally aboard the U.S.S. Independence.
He met Claire "Dolly" Dommert while visiting his brother Howard and sister in law Nona in San Francisco, where they rented an apartment from Claire's mother. The two dated and were married in San Francisco on August 20, 1949. They began their family soon thereafter with oldest son Danny born in 1950, Michael in 1952, Paul in 1954, Patricia in 1956 and Susan in 1962. Jim retired from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1960 and moved his family to Cupertino, CA where he attended electronics school, bought a home and secured a job with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, CA; a career spanning 18 years as a supervisor in the satellite program.
Both Jim and Claire wanted to live in the country and made the move to Hollister in 1971 where they settled into a small farm that became the gathering place for the entire family as their children married and had children of their own. The family came together frequently for any and all holidays and celebrations where many happy memories still resound in our hearts. They both loved folk dancing and remained dedicated to attending dances and parties where they had many loving friends for many decades. Upon Claire's passing in 1999, Jim continued folk dancing, as well began a new passion for karaoke. He remarried in 2002 to Josephine Daman Dommert.
In addition to his wife, Josephine, and stepson, Joseph, Jim is survived by his children Danny (Patricia), Michael, Paul (Leandra), Patricia (Joe) and Susan (Lynn), 17 grandchildren, and 34 great grandchildren.
Committal services will be on Friday, February 24, 2017 at 3:00 PM at St. Benedict Church Columbarium.