James L. “Jim” Cates Jr.

JAMES L. “JIM” CATES, JR., passed away Sunday afternoon, May 31, 2020, at the St Lucas Healthcare home in Faribault, Minnesota.

James L. “Jim” Cates Jr.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 8th, at 10:30 am at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee, Iowa with military rites by L.A. Prescott Post #2253 of the Cherokee VFW and the Cherokee American Legion. Pastor Mark Leeds will officiate. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 7th, at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa, from 1 pm to 5 pm with family present from 3 pm to 5 pm. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Jim Cates was born on September 1, 1951, in Cherokee, Iowa, to James L, and Rosemary (Lyman) Cates, Sr. He graduated from the Cherokee Washington High School in 1971. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. for his basic training. After AIT he was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with the Infantry Division. He then was transferred to Ft. Hood, Texas. where he participated in “Brigade 75”, making three deployments to Germany as a specialist in Armored Vehicles. He married Pamela LaFave on May 18, 1972 in Cherokee, Iowa, and to this union four children were born, Nicole, Trevor, Ryan and Jarad. On March 19, 1991, Jim married Jeannie Johnson in Estes State Park, Colorado.

After leaving the Army, Jim worked in several states with the pork industry. At the time of his retirement in 2013 he had worked for twelve years at Daiken Applied in Owatonna, Minnesota where he was also a Union Steward Representative for #480. Prior to going into the care facility Jim had been a resident of Albert Lea, MN for several years.

In his spare time Jim enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, window shopping at Cabelas and he was a “serious” card player. He loved spending time with his family and making memories with his 9 grandchildren. His favorite foods were cut out cookies, ding-dongs and IBC Root Beer.

Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, brother Thomas Cates, Sister MaDonna and her husband Robert Robinson, a niece Bonnie Robinson, his father-in-law Gale “Pickle” Johnson.

Left to cherish the memories are his wife and best friend Jeannie Cates of Owatonna, Minnesota, his four children: Nicole (Jamie) Kueker of Fairmont, MN, Trevor Cates of Mankato, MN, Ryan Cates of Mankato, MN, and Jarad Cates of Mankato, MN; 9 grandchildren: Tyler Kueker, Darrian Kueker, Ethan Kueker, Cora Kueker, Izabella Kueker, Hope Kueker, and Rebekah Kueker, Jordan Lamoureaux, and Jaxton Lamont, all of Fairmont, MN. Sister Linda (Gary) Mc Claren, Sutherland, IA, brothers William (Juanita) Cates, Cherokee, IA, Chester (Karla) Cates, Cherokee, IA, Randy (Prudence) Cates, Cherokee, IA, and Brian (La Reina) Cates, Oak Grove, MO; a sister-in-law Theresa Cates of Cherokee, IA; his step-mother Rose Cates of Okoboji, IA; a step-brother Steve (Barb) Barney of Omaha, NE: his mother-in-law Sharon Johnson of Geneva, MN; along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.