James A. Srsen, 82

Published 10:40 am Saturday, February 24, 2018

James A. Srsen, 82, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, Minnesota, surrounded by his family.

James Allen was born June 8, 1935, in Austin, Minnesota, to Hubert and Georgiana (Creegan) Srsen. He graduated with the class of 1953 from Blooming Prairie High School and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Mankato State College in Mankato, Minnesota. During his college years, Jim served in the National Guard. Jim started his career with International Harvester Co. and worked for them at various levels for the next nine years. He was united in marriage on Sept. 23, 1958, with Marilyn Swanson in Mankato. That same year, he began a two-year military duty in the U.S. Army, much of which he spent in Okinawa, Japan.

James Srsen

Following his honorable discharge, Jim and Marilyn lived in St. Paul and Zumbrota, Minnesota, for the next few years before returning to Blooming Prairie in 1966. It was at that time he took over the operation of Srsen I.H. Implement in Blooming Prairie until 1985. From 1985 to 1988, Jim served as beverage manager for the Owatonna Country Club, and finished his career in electronic manufacturing with Itron, Inc. in Waseca, Minnesota, retiring in 2000. Familiar to collectors around southern Minnesota, Jim and Marilyn were avid antique hunters and dealers who enjoyed researching and reselling their finds. Jim had a special interest in old tin toys, loved a good auction or flea market and was always tinkering with something. Blooming Prairie folks would often see Jim around town enjoying his recumbent bicycle. He was a longtime member of St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie and a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Jim’s loved ones will cherish and miss his quick wit, easy sweet smile, gentle soul and those twinkling blue eyes behind his ever so stylish eyeglasses.

He is survived by his children, Brian (Kari) Srsen of Austin, Jon (Margaret) Srsen of Blooming Prairie, Julie Srsen (Francis Keys) of Blooming Prairie, and Kimberly (Chad) Loecher of Northfield, Minnesota; grandchildren, Kyle (Jenny Strand), Jaime (Chris Stundahl), Ryan, Dylan and Nick Srsen, Hannah and Griffin Loecher; great-grandchildren, Brody Srsen, Evelyn and Korbyn Stundahl, and Alayna Srsen; brothers-in-law; sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marilyn on Aug. 16, 2009; and his twin brother,Jerry (Evie) Srsen.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at St. Columbanus Catholic Church with Father Thomas Niehaus officiating. The Srsen family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, March 2, at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and will continue on Saturday for one hour prior to services at St. Columbanus.

There will be a Knights of Columbus rosary prayer at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim’s memory are preferred. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.