James Fitzgerald

James Robert "Jim" Fitzgerald, age 61 of Zumbrota, died unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon, March 22, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Jim was born on August 18, 1949 in Slayton, MN, the oldest of five children to Duane and Marian (Kahnk) Fitzgerald. He attended Slayton High School, graduating in 1967. He served with the US Navy on the USS Enterprise during the Vietnam War. Following his discharge, he followed in his father's footsteps and became a pressman, working and living in Texas, Nevada and California, coaching his sons in soccer and baseball, and making many friends along the way. He returned to Minnesota in 1997, and has worked at the Cannon Falls Beacon since that time. He met Kathy Johnson in 2006 and they married on September 21, 2007 in Rochester. He was an avid bowler and golfer, and enjoyed watching the MN Twins and MN Vikings. He was a life member of the VFW Nelson Scofield Post #4452 in Cannon Falls, and was known to his family and friends as "The Great American." He loved life, had a great sense of humor, and prided himself in the love of his country and family. He will be greatly missed! He is survived by his wife, Kathy of Zumbrota; sons, Joshua of Austin, TX and Justin (Stacie) of Greene, NY; four grandchildren, Jordan, Brooke, Teegan and Haley; his mother, Marian of Northfield; sisters and brother, Brenda (Dean) Ehrlicher of Billings, MT, Daniel (Judy) of Pleasantville, IA, Linda Fitzgerald (Arne Green) of Cannon Falls, and Lori (Jeff) Krohn of Northfield; mother-in-law, Connie Anthony of Chaska; sisters-in-law, Patti Abbott of Chaska and Mary Kay (Dean) Dropps of Shakopee; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Duane Fitzgerald. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 26 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius V Catholic Church, with Father Leonard Siebenaler officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls. There will also be visitation at the church on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Active bearers will be Dan Fitzgerald, Dean Dropps, and Arne Green. Honorary bearers will be his nephews, Todd and Trent Dawson, Chad Fitzgerald, Ryan Ackerman and Timothy Dropps.

Funeral Home: Lundberg Funeral Home 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd Cannon Falls, MN US 55009

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, March 25, 2011
Service
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Graveside Service
Saturday, March 26, 2011

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