James Primus

James J. "Jim" Primus, age 84 of Melrose, formerly of Freeport, died Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 17 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Freeport. Military honors were provided by the Albany American Legion.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

James John Primus was born July 8, 1928, in Melrose, Minnesota to Anthony and Clotilda (Wander) Primus. He served in the Naval Air Force near the end of World War II. He was united in marriage to Florence "Flossie" Meier on May 10, 1948. Flossie died on November 30, 1992, after a battle with cancer. Jim was united to Bernice (Koopmeiners) Kluempke on August 5, 1995, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. He was a bartender at Ackie's Pioneer Inn in Freeport and retired after 54 years.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and the American Legion in Albany. Jim was well known for his woodworking, bartending, and his humor.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice Primus of Melrose; children, Jean (Mike) Hellermann of Melrose, Arlene Primus of Minneapolis, and Lyla (Ken) Olafson of Oak Grove; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; step-children, Arlene (Urban) Beuning of St. Rosa, Michael (Judy) Kluempke of Richmond, Kentucky, Gary (Bonnie) Kluempke of Flower Mound, Texas, Don (Sharon) Kluempke of Melrose, Mary Kay (Kluempke) Solarz and Gerard Huhne of Albany, Carol (Mark) Stangler of St. Cloud, and Amy (Ken) Stangler of Blaine; 18 step- grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren; brother, Brother George Primus of St. John's Collegeville; and sisters, Sister Colette Primus of St. Cloud and Mary Ann (Howard) Hinnerichs of White Bear Lake.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Flossie Primus; parents; brothers and sisters, Lorraine Revermann, Don Primus, Mae Rose Baltes, Roy Primus, and Verona Meyer; and step-son, Hermie Kluempke.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jim Hellermann, Ron Hellermann, Andy Hellermann, Derrik Strickler, Aaron Olafson, Brandon Franke and Shawn Duevel. Cross bearer will be Nancy Duevel and scripture bearer will be Alyssa Olafson. Honorary bearers will be Alana Strickler and Lillian Strickler.