James Letourneau, age 86, of Isanti died July 9, 2009 at Veterans Hospital in St. Cloud. A funeral service will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 12th at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel with Rev. Valerie Brown-Greenly officiating. A time for visiting will be held from 4:00 P.M. until service time on Sunday. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Tuesday, July 14th, assembly area 1.
James F. Letourneau was born March 28, 1923 in St. Paul to Robert and Margaret Letourneau. He was raised in St. Paul and attended St. Matthew’s Catholic School. Jim loved playing hockey and he was scouted by the professional teams but the war was more important. Jim served in the Army during World War II. He was in the Normandy Invasion and many other combat areas. He earned the combat infantry badge, good conduct medal, the European-African-Middle East Theatre Ribbon with Three Bronze Stars and he received the Purple Heart when he lost a leg to a mine. This injury would end his hockey career. On August 7, 1973 Jim married Joyce Stalmer in Watertown, North Dakota. They made their home in rural Isanti. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and his favorite charity was Father Flanagan’s Boys Town. Jim loved the outdoors and wood working. He loved fishing and he had been a great swimmer. He also loved music and even wrote some. He especially enjoyed the grand ole oprey.
James passed away on July 9, 2009 at the Veterans Hospital in St. Cloud at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 11 days. He is survived by his wife, Joyce of Isanti; 3 sons, James (Julie) of Moorhead, Russel and Robert both of Minneapolis; 3 daughters, Mary (Ron) Green of Little Falls, Lilly Letourneau of Minneapolis, Bobbi (Tom) Kuehn of Isanti; 4 step-children, Cricket (Jesse) James of St. Paul, James Stalmer of St. Paul, Craig (Sandi) Stalmer of Little Falls, Jayne (Perry) Nelson of Braham; 15 grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Bye dad, for now. RIP I love you and miss you.