James Esser

James “Jim” R. Esser, age 83, of Mankato, and formerly of St. James, passed away January 3, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato after a brief illness.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., January 13, 2018 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 South Broad Street, Mankato. Visitation is from 9-11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Whittemore, Iowa at a later date. The family prefers memorials be given to St. John’s Building Fund. Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family.

James Raymond “Jim” Esser the only child of Raymond & Helen (Gerber) Esser was born on March 6, 1934 in Whittemore, Iowa. Jim graduated from Presentation Academy in Whittemore in 1951. He married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Elbert on April 16, 1955. He worked for Lambert Lumber in Pipestone and Winnebago until 1961, then moved to St James and managed the St. James Ready Mix Concrete plant for 38 years, retiring in 1999. Jim & Ruth raised 3 children, Diane, James “Jay” and Debbie. Jim enjoyed all sports, especially baseball, football, hockey and golf. He collected coins and sports memorabilia. On July 11, 1998, Jim married Audrey Goodrich.

Jim is survived by wife, Audrey Goodrich Esser of Mankato; daughter, Diane (Brad) Feltz of Shafer, MN; son, Jay Esser of Rosemount, MN; daughter, Deborah (Chad) Blomgren of Livermore, CA; grandchildren, Ryan (Nicole) Feltz, of Roseville, MN, and their children Lucy, James and Oliver; Bryanna (Joel) Sanderson of Woodbury, MN, and their children Caleb, Elijah, Andrew, and Isaac; Heather and Michael Esser of Rosemount, MN; Seth Blomgren of Sioux Falls, SD and Benjamin Blomgren of Madison, WI. Jim is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ruth Elbert Esser on Nov 10, 1991; granddaughter, Chelsea Blomgren on January 14, 1993; and daughter-in-law, Michelle Giatris Esser on April 22, 2015.