James Robert Weir

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 388-2288

James Robert Weir, age 88, of Mankato, died Wednesday November 25, 2015, at Waters Edge in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00a.m., Monday, November 30, 2015, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Mankato. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 29, 2015, at Northview¬-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato and will continue one hour before service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in St. Matthew’s Catholic Cemetery, Vernon Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Children’s Museum of Mankato.

James Robert Weir was born at home February 2, 1927 in Vernon Center, MN to William B. and Mary Ann (Mountain) Weir. James graduated from Good Thunder High School in 1945. In December of 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served until his discharge on August 24, 1946. He then attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN on the GI Bill.

James was united in marriage to Jane Ann Traxler on May 5, 1951 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in North Mankato. Their wedding, which took place during a flood, was covered in the Mankato Free Press with a headline “This couple was married come hell or high water” (and they had a lot of both). James worked for 1st Banks in the cities of Sauk Centre, Austin, Windom,
and also ran the Bank of Brewster. In 1967, he founded Commerce Insurance Agency, which later became James R. Weir Insurance Agency in Mankato. James was active in the communities in which he lived; serving on public and private school boards, as a volunteer Chaplain for ISJ Hospital Mankato, member of the Serra Club, Past President and member of the Mankato Charter Commission, Knights of Columbus where he was a Grand Knight, the American Legion, and St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. James enjoyed life.

James is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jane; children, Mary (Mike) Donohoe of Mankato (and their children Katie, Gina, Meghan, and Patrick), Dan (Mary) Weir of St. Paul MN (and their children Elizabeth, Katherine, and Nicholas), Margaret (Everett) Hageman of Burnsville (and their children Craig and Erin), Nick (Nora) Weir of Chicago, IL. (and their children Ryann and Dylan), Katie (Mark) Bastiansen of Excelsior (and their children Zach and Luke), Paddy (Peter) Mehlhaff of Aberdeen, SD (and their children TK, John, Jane, Joe, and Sam), John (Jill) Weir (and their children William, Emma, and Grace), and Jay (Lisa) Weir (and their children James, Kelsey, and Katherine), both of Mankato, MN.

James was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Ann; his nine siblings; and great grandson Sullivan Thoele.

Jim is survived by distinguished mothers, fathers, children, writers, artists, business people, doctors, lawyers, poets, philanthropists, therapists, comedians, actors, ASL interpreters, gourmet chefs, musicians, playwrights, tennis professionals, engineers, adventurers, debaters, students and teachers, costume designers, autism experts and securities and commodity trading experts. He has nurtured a legacy and ethic with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of kindness, humor, grace and love.

He will always be our very best friend.