Red Hultberg (1926-2020)
Dr. James Eldon Hultberg, D.D.S. passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 4:30am at East Jefferson General Hospital at the age of 93 years. He was born October 2, 1926 in Burlington, Iowa to the late Frank Oscar Hultberg and Alice Peterson Hultberg. He was preceded in death by his wife Marion Simmons Hultberg; brother John Hultberg; son-in-law Robert Meadows; and grandson Joshua Meadows. He was the beloved and faithful husband of Marion, the love of his life for 63 years. They were married August 14, 1949 in New Orleans, Louisiana. They traveled extensively and especially enjoyed cruises. They successfully completed five Crescent City Classics and were members of the Let's Dance Club and the Plimsoll Club. He is survived by his daughters, Jan Hultberg Meadows of Elgin, Texas and Joanne Hultberg Gordon and her husband Joseph of Boca Raton, Florida; and his son Jordan Phillip Hultberg of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is the grandfather of Erin Meadows of Elgin, Texas; Kelly Gordon Zemil and her husband Nick Zemil of McLean, Virginia; Scott Gordon of Miami, Florida; Jordan Hultberg and his wife Michelle of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Richard Hultberg and his wife Kelsey of Houston, Texas; Mary Katherine Hultberg of Houston, Texas; and Catherine and Caroline Grace Hultberg of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Angela Meadows Paltadakis; and great- grandchildren Olivia Meadows, Emery and Josh Hultberg and Lane, Ben and Charlie Zemil. He leaves behind Juanita Dusse, his loving companion of six years who was with him in the hospital at the time of his passing, as well as many friends who loved him dearly. James graduated from Warren Easton High School and earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Loyola University in 1948. He served three years in the Navy during WWII and was stationed in San Diego, Whidbey Island, Marshall Islands and Pensacola, attaining the rank of LTJG. He practiced dentistry for 43 years in New Orleans. He was affectionately called "Big Jim" by his family, but known to many in his younger years as Red Hultberg. He was a resident of River Ridge (formerly Little Farms). Big Jim played basketball at Warren Easton and earned a basketball scholarship to Loyola University in New Orleans. He played for the 1945 National Championship team, was inducted into Loyola's Hall of Fame and earned Second-team All American honors.
