James Van Buren March II

Northview ~ North 
Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
(507) 388-2288

James (Jim) Van Buren March II, 75, of rural Mapleton, Minn., died Saturday, September 10 at the Mapleton Community Home. A public memorial service will be held at the Northview North Mankato Mortuary on Friday, Sept. 16 from 3 to 5 p.m., with a family service to be held an hour before at 2 p.m. 

March is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jeanne March and by his children, Kelly O'Hara Dyer (Mick), Jim March (Jodi), Jennifer Crawford (Dan) and Ben March, as well as grandchildren Reilly, Spencer, Ian, Avery, Josie, Madaline, Reese and Calista. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Michael March (Sheryl) of St. Cloud; and sisters, Valerie Van Dyke (Walt) and Beth Prahm (Roger) of the Slayton area, and Mary Schwartz (Bob) of Nevis, Minn., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

March was born May 6, 1941 in Slayton, Minn., to James "Van" March and Florence (Furan) March. He graduated from Slayton High School in 1959 and married Jeanne Marie Forsberg of Currie, Minn. on March 4, 1962. Jim and Jeanne farmed in rural Slayton until 1977, when they moved to Mankato, Minn. He worked as the maintenance supervisor for the City of Mankato Housing Division until he started his own construction/remodeling business. He later joined Keeper's RV Center Ltd. as a salesman until his retirement in 2004.

He was an avid lifelong fisherman and hunter, and enjoyed camping, bird-watching and woodworking, as well as life on his hobby farm in rural Mapleton. He'll be remembered for his sense of humor and deep love for his family.