Jim was born in Duluth, MN and grew up in Minneapolis. He graduated from West High School, attended University of Minnesota, then served 2 years in the Navy. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years, then moved to Costa Mesa, California and invested in real estate, and developed various other new interests.

His hobbies included observing and participating in sports, square dancing, bicycling and motorcycling. He bought his first motorcycle at age 16 and a Ford Model A at age 17, much to the chagrin of his mother, and owned a Harley all his adult life.

He was blessed with a prodigious memory in the era before computers arrived, and this made him a "go to" guy for anyone who wanted to know some trivial fact. He was an immaculate bookkeeper, and took great pride in keeping fastidious records of his various investments.

He was known by his friends to be very kind, generous, loyal and principled, and one considered himself or herself lucky to be counted among Jim's many friends.

Jim passed away on February 26, 2014 from pneumonia. He is survived by his ex-wife, Carol of Minneapolis and his brother, Robert of Costa Mesa. He was predeceased by his father, John and his mother, Helen.

Visitation will be at Fairhaven Mortuary in Santa Ana on March 20 from 4 to 6 pm, and he will be interred at Pacific View Cemetery in Corona del Mar on March 21 at 2 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jim's memory to the charity of your choice .