Dr. James E. Anhalt, Jr.

James Edward Anhalt, Jr., M.D., passed away peacefully in his sleep the evening of March 11, 2025, at the age of 84. He was surrounded by loved ones at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. James was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to James E. Anhalt, Sr., M.D., and Ernestine Garavelli. He was the oldest of their three sons, including John Paul and Richard Louis.

He grew up in Monterey Park, California, and attended Ynez Elementary School, Mark Keppel High School, and Occidental College where he earned his BA. He returned to Memphis for medical school at the University of Tennessee, earning his MD, and married Mary Jo Alleman, his high school sweetheart. They raised “four brilliant children, Carolyn Rose, James Edward III, Michael John, and Carl Thomas.“

Dr. Anhalt completed his medical internship at Kern General Hospital in Bakersfield, CA, in 1966. He was then commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army and assigned duty as a battalion surgeon general medical officer with the 4th Battalion of the 60th Artillery. Shortly thereafter, the battalion was deployed to Camp Townes, Vietnam. Captain Anhalt was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement during ground operations against hostile forces in Vietnam. Returning from Vietnam he was reassigned to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, as a clinic physician and later as chief medical examiner for new recruits. Dr. Anhalt was honorably discharged from military service in 1968. He returned to California and completed a four-year residency in pathology at Kern Medical Center, and was certified by the American Board of Pathology. His professional career included laboratory directorships at Kern Medical Center, Delano Community Hospital, Kern Valley Hospital – Lake Isabella, San Joaquin Community Hospital, and his own private practice, Anhalt Medical Laboratories. He was a partner at Physicians’ Automated Laboratory (PAL), a full-service outpatient lab, and the medical director of Houchin Community Blood Bank in Bakersfield.

He was a member of the Kern County Medical Society and served on the Kern County Foundation for Medical Care. He also taught Parasitology at California State University Bakersfield, and served as a Deputy Coroner Medical Examiner for the Kern County Sheriff.

In addition to his lifelong love for his dogs (Leopold, Linus, Siggy, Frank, Brandy, Copland, Opus, Sparky, Millie, Babe, and Sparky II), his passions also included fishing, playing piano, raising birds, and growing orchids, carnivorous plants, and botany in general. He retired in 2003 and moved to Hilo, Hawaii. In 2007, he relocated to Palm Springs, and has lived in Rancho Mirage since 2010.

He will be remembered for his sense of humor, friendship, and service to others.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Sr. and Ernestine, who both passed away in 1995, and by his brother Richard.

He is survived by his brother John, and his wife Mary Jo, their four children, and four grandchildren: Isabella Pestovski, daughter of Carolyn; and Mallori, Sydney, and James IV, children of James III.

There will be a celebration of his life with friends and family in Rancho Mirage. He will be interred in Bakersfield.

Donations can be made in his memory to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and CALM Bakersfield.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to Serenity Hospice and Trident Society of Rancho Mirage for their compassionate care and support.

Photos and videos of Jim are collected here. Please add yours to the album!

Listen to his favorite songs here.

If you knew Jim, please comment below with your favorite memories.