James William Stough, 62

Published 8:38 am Friday, March 1, 2019

James William Stough, 62

James “Jim” William Stough, 62, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus-Rochester surrounded by his loving family.

Jim was born on June 6, 1956, in Jackson, Minnesota, to Roger and Shirley (Bechtel) Stough. He was baptized on July 6, 1956, and confirmed on May 24, 1970. He grew up and attended school in Estherville, Iowa, graduating from Estherville High School in 1974 and then attending Iowa Lakes Community College. Jim was employed at Pizza Hut as a store manager for five years before working for his father at Estherville Millwork. On May 8, 1982, Jim married Terri Groninger at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn, Minnesota, the same church in which his parents were married. Together they raised two children, son Brian and daughter Kelsey. Jim went on to attend Worsham College of Mortuary Science, located in the Chicago, Illinois, area, graduating in 1985 with a degree in mortuary science. He served his internship and continued to work at Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville, until 1989, when he went to work at Olson Funeral Home, which served several communities in the Fairmont area. In July 2000, Jim started working at Worlein Funeral Home. He was a licensed funeral director in both the states of Minnesota and Iowa. Jim was also a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He served the Austin community with involvement in the Austin Noon Lions, serving as an ambassador for the Austin Chamber of Commerce, volunteering for the Freedom Festival Parade, and on the 100 Club. He was a member of the Austin Country Club and St. John’s Lutheran Church. In his free time, he enjoyed Green Bay Packer football, Hawkeye sports, sprint car races, golf, trips to Las Vegas, sampling craft beers, and spending time with his family. Jim will be remembered as a big presence who gave his all to his work and family. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Terri Stough of Austin; son, Brian (Kate Hansen) Stough of Minocqua, Wisconsin; daughter, Kelsey Stough of Bloomington, Minnesota; father, Roger (Joyce) Stough of Webster City, Iowa; one sister, Becky (Dave) Hoss of Pipestone, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Jim (Pam) Groninger of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sisters-in-law, Kelly (Jeff) Kennedy of Henderson, Nevada, and Connie Groninger of North Mankato, Minnesota; nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley, in 1988; his grandparents; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gerald “Joe” and Sylvia Groninger.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor James Groleau officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, March 1, 2019, at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Interment will be in the Sherburn Cemetery in Sherburn. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be directed to recipient of donor’s choice. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.