Gordon L. James

Funeral services for Gordon James, age 94, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Minneapolis and Milaca, will be held Monday, March 03, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Lighthouse Fellowship (formerly Milaca Assembly of God) with Pastor Robben Gitzel officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Military Honors will be provided by Hansen-Hayes American Legion Post #178 and Siemers-Hakes VFW Post #10794. Gordon L. James was born May 10, 1919 to William and Mable (Samuelson) James in Milaca, MN. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in France, Italy, and Africa. Gordon married Erma Fleck on December 2, 1942 in Milaca. After completing his service, Gordon and Erma farmed in Hayland Township, north of Milaca, for five years. They moved to Grand Rapids and Gordon worked in the mines near Coleraine until 1962, when they moved to Minneapolis. He then worked for over twenty years as a custodian at the University of Minnesota. He was a member of the Last Man’s Club with the Milaca American Legion. Gordon loved spending time with his family. He passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Grand Itasca Hospital in Grand Rapids. He is survived by daughters, Karen Bertram of Grand Rapids and Dianna Flores of Sturgeon Bay, WI; sons, Mitchel James of Grand Rapids and Jerald James of CA; 26 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; brother, James (Irene) James of Milaca; sister, Betty (Al) Hendrickson of Mora; also by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Erma in 2005; son, Gordon; infant daughter, Jonie;