James Strutz

James G. Strutz, age 71, of Willmar, died Tuesday morning, October 4, at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London.

Memorial service will be held at 2 PM Friday, October 7, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar.   Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers memorial are preferred.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.  (www.petersonbrothers.com)

James Gary Strutz was born on December 15, 1944, in Watertown, South Dakota, the son of William J. and  Sophie (Freidl) Strutz.  He grew up on a farm and attended country school for his first two grades.  The family moved to Watertown and Jim completed his education, graduating from Watertown High School in 1963.  His favorite sports during high school were wrestling and football. He was a state champion in wrestling in 1962.  He worked in gas stations in the Watertown area as a mechanic and pump jockey before going to work for F. W. Woolworth Co. in 1965 as an assistant manager for 3 1/2 years.  He was promoted to manager of the store in Redwood Falls, Minnesota in Sept. of 1968.  He married Joan Ellen Larsen on September 8, 1968 in Watertown, South Dakota and they made their home in Redwood Falls and Granite Falls, Minnesota.  To this marriage was born two daughters, Lori and Christie.  He worked at 22 different jobs for 25 different supervisors and touched a lot of lives in his lifetime.  They moved to Willmar in 2008 and began attending Bethel Lutheran.   Jim has been a member of AA since 1972.  He loved being with family and friends and enjoyed fishing, riding bike, walking, movies, reading, sharing feelings, building bird houses and feeders and most of all gardening.

Jim is survived by his wife, Joan of Willmar; two daughters, Lori (Kent) Warne of Newfolden and Christie (Bryan) Boutain of Gilbert, AZ, three grandchildren, Ty Warne, Bryanna and Jack Boutain and his dog Charlie.  Also surviving is one brother, Billy Strutz of Radcliffe, Iowa; two sisters, Kathy Rear of Clearlake, South Dakota, and Carol and (Larry) Koenig of Pine Island, Minnesota, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents,  one brother Lawrence Strutz and one sister, Shirley Daggett.