James L. Skarphol

James "Jim" Lowell Skarphol was born on June 9, 1948, in St. James, Minnesota to the late Obert and Cora (Alford) Skarphol. He was baptized and confirmed at Lake Hanska Lutheran Church and graduated from Madelia High School in the Class of 1966. On October 16, 1966, Jim was united in marriage to Karen Olson. This marriage was blessed with five children, Kari, Jodi, Tim, Andy and Amanda. After marriage, Jim and Karen lived in several places in Minnesota including St. James, Ellendale, Mt. Lake and in 1984, they moved to Windom. For twenty- six years, Jim and Karen worked side by side as the custodial engineers at the American Lutheran Church in Windom where they were long-time members. Through the years, Jim helped every spring and fall with the farming on the Wolle Farms in rural St. James. He also worked as an EMT on the Windom Ambulance and in 1991 became their director. In 2006, Jim was diagnosed with liver cancer and fought the disease courageously until passing away peacefully, with his family at home in Windom, at the age of 62 years. Jim will be remembered for always having a smile and helping anyone that needed help. He had many enjoyments in life which included ...[more]

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ming, working, gardening, telling jokes and stories, and most of all, his family, especially his grandchildren. Jim is survived by his wife, of forty-three years, Karen Skarphol of Windom; five children, Kari Bartkus (Anthony) of Lakewood, CO; Jodi Garthwait (Jeff) of Medina; Tim Skarphol (Christine) of Hugo; Andy Skarphol (Nicole) of Mankato; Amanda Skarphol of Windom; nine grandchildren, Kate and James Bartkus, Grace and Sam Garthwait, Ryan and Randy Rehbein, Jenna Skarphol and Sydney and William Skarphol; nine brothers and sisters, Muriel (Vernon) McGuire of Wasco, CA; Carol Morford of Oberlin, KS; Milan Skarphol (Geri) of Mankato; Lloyd Skarphol (Sandy) of Springfield; Allen Skarphol (Bonnie) of Sioux Falls, SD; Norman Skarphol of Madelia; Paul Skarphol of Bakersfield, CA; Julie Fleischhacker (Mark) of Tonka Bay; Mark Skarphol (Yvonne) of LaSalle; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Jim is preceded in death by his parents. Blessed be the memory of James "Jim" Skarphol.