James Fodness

Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 2, 2008

Funeral services for James Sherman Fodness, age 86, of Glenville will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Lyndy West will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by the Freeborn County Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home two hours prior to the service.
Jim died Thursday, July 31, 2008, of heart failure at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
James Sherman Fodness was born on Sept. 15, 1921, to Jacob and Sella (Christopherson) Fodness in Moscow Township of Freeborn County. He grew up in the Oakland Township area. Jim worked on the family farm and lived with various relatives helping on their farms. In 1940 he moved to Milwaukee and later that same year to El Segundo in the Los Angeles area and went to work for Douglas Aircraft. In 1943 he returned home and joined the Army Air Corps. Jim was united in marriage to Priscilla Loken on June 24, 1945, at the Oakland Midway Lutheran Church. He was honorably discharged in 1946, receiving the good conduct medal, among others. After his discharge Jim operated the Farm Labor Service Station for eight years then went to work for Interstate Power Company as a fireman in the power plant. He remained there until his retirement in 1978 when they closed the plant. Jim was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Albert Lea Rod & Gun Club.  Throughout his life Jim was an avid gardener, planting thousands of evergreens, large vegetable gardens, berry patches, and later, hostas. He had a great appreciation for nature and conservation. Jim was instrumental in re-introducing wild turkeys to Minnesota. He loved deer hunting up north and was also a carpenter and enjoyed making many bird houses. Jim was a kind and generous man who enriched the lives of everyone he met.
Survivors include his four daughters, Linda and husband John Lawler of Kokomo, Ind., Vicki and husband Jim Petersen of Mankato, Shari Fodness of Minneapolis, and Wendy Fodness of Glenville; grandchildren, Erin and husband Jon-Eric Eliker of Kokomo, Sean and wife Jacalyn Lawler of South Carolina, Megan Lawler of Ind., and Renn Fodness of Glenville; sisters, Annette Bond and Ruth Rauen, both of Austin; sisters-in-law, Eldora (Bob) Tandberg of Golden Valley, Opal Schallock of Albert Lea, and Avis Lehman of Northwood, Iowa.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Priscilla; sisters, Gladys, Edna, Esther, Alice and Mary; and brothers, Franklin, Marvin, Raymond, Harry and John.