James Kleinvachter

James A. "Jim" Kleinvachter age 82, of Sauk Centre died Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at the Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. The Rev. James Statz will officiate. Private interment will be at a later date at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Jim Kleinvachter was born on June 20, 1928 in Strandquist, Minnesota to Adolph and Gladys (Holmstrom) Kleinvachter. Jim served in the US Army occupation forces following World War II. He married Josephine McNamara on January 6, 1951 in Thief River Falls. Jim worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone in Thief River Falls, St. Cloud, Crookston, Detroit Lakes and Sauk Centre. Jim also did contract work in various states. He owned and operated the Gateway Resort on Sauk Lake from 1975 until 2000.

Jim was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, American Legion Post 67 and The Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853.

Jim is survived by his wife Josephine of Sauk Centre; children, Mary (Jim) Oliver of Little Falls, LuAnn (Mike) Rohr of Corinth, Texas, Gary Kleinvachter of Sauk Centre, Brian (Tammy) Kleinvachter of Cabot, Arkansas; 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Dennis (Patricia) Kleinvachter of Sun Lake, AZ, Ronald (Diane) Kleinvachter of Gilbert, AZ, Arlette (Albert) Friedlander of Lake Elmo, Carol Sommers of San Antonio, TX, Ivadell (Don) Douglas of Park Rapids, Beverly (David) Hauswirth of St. Paul, amd Susan Gigstad of Fargo,ND.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert Kleinvachter.

Serving as casket bearers will be Shawn Wunderlich, Chris Wunderlich, John Sells, Eric Rohr, Lonnie Gulbranson and Paul Stanina. Serving as cross bearer will be Nancy Pirkey. Serving as honorary bearers will be Darrell Wunderlich, Jennifer Wiederhold, Ryan Kleinvachter, Neil Kleinvachter, Cody Kleinvachter, David Wunderlich, Natalie Pirkey, Crystal Wunderlich, Jacie Pirkey, Isaiah Merrick, Ellie Stone, Maeve Rohr, Annabelle Kleinvachter, Jared Bindl and Leyna Bindl.