James Fobair, 1928-2014

Published 9:42 am Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Memorial services for James “Jim” N. Fobair, 85, of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Revs. Timothy T. Reker and Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be in St. Theodore’s Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by

James Fobair

Albert Lea veterans organizations. Friends may visit with family one hour before services at the church.

Jim died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea.

He was born Aug. 4, 1928, in Butte, Neb., the son of Irving W. and Ruby A. (Anderson) Fobair.

Jim graduated from Butte High School with the class of 1946, and then continued on to Railroad Telegraph School. He served our country in the U.S. Army from November 1950  until his honorable discharge in November 1952.

On Nov. 27, 1952, Jim was united in marriage to Lorraine Larmand in Lowell, Mass.

They made their first home in Deshler, Neb., where Jim was employed as a station agent for Rock Island Railroad. In 1967, they moved to Albert Lea,  where Jim continued to be employed by the railroad. In 1973, Jim and Lorraine opened Fobair Furniture in Clarks Grove, which they operated for 28 years before retiring.

He was a member of the Lion’s Club and the Chamber of Commerce in Deshler, Neb., and the American Legion and Golden K Kiwanis in Albert Lea.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lorraine; four children, son James Fobair of Albert Lea and his fiancée Maricel, daughter Patricia Fobair of Burnsville, daughter Marie (Frank) Maras of Albert Lea and son David Fobair of Brooklyn, N.Y.; grandchildren Eric Fobair of Forest Lake, Renee Deegan and her fiancé John Haarmann of Apple Valley, Sean Cheren of Burnsville and Alarie Maras of Minneapolis; brother Irving (Joyce) Fobair of Cottonwood, Ariz.; nieces and nephews; goddaughter Karen Morrissette of Lowell, Mass., and cousin Betty McDermott of North Hollywood, Calif.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Ruby Fobair.

Jim was an amazing and loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or St. Theodore Catholic Church.