Funeral services for 83-year-old James “Jim” C. Barber of Waseca, Minnesota, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday morning, March 9, 2015, at Faith United Church in Waseca. Pastor Victor Waters will officiate at the services. The church is located at 801 4th Avenue N. E.
Interment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at Assembly Area #3. Fort Snelling National Cemetery is located at 7601 34th Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2015 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca, located at 711 North State Street and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.
James Barber passed away on Wednesday March 4, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota following an extended illness.
James Chessrun Barber, son of Bennie and Rozella (Mudica) Barber, was born on June 12, 1931 in Winthrop, Minnesota. He attended and graduated from Winthrop Public High School. Following high school, he served his country in the United States Army. Following his service, he attended Mankato State College in Mankato, Minnesota (today Minnesota State University-Mankato) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then received his Masters of Education from the University of Maryland.
Jim was united in marriage to Edith Lord on August 30, 1958 in Springfield, Minnesota.
Jim worked at many different jobs throughout his lifetime. He was a seaman on the Great Lakes with Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company in the 1950s. He also worked as an Industrial Education teacher in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was a school counselor at Mountain Lake Public High School in Mountain Lake, Minnesota for 17 years. He owned a Sears Store in Ortonville, Minnesota, worked as a clerk at Oasis Market in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and as a product maintenance technician with Sears at the Burnsville Shopping Center until his retirement in 2003.
Jim was involved in many different organizations including the American Legion Post #314 in Winthrop for over 53 years, Charis prison ministry, Unidos en Cristo, and Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed woodworking, geneology, reading and fishing.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Edith Barber of Waseca; son, Scott (fiancé, Sandra Elliott) Barber of Fredericksburg, Virginia; grandchildren, Stephanie Barber of Owatonna, Lauren Barber of Owatonna, Justin and Jake Elliott and Morgan Barr; great-grandchildren, Fallyn and Payton Elliott, and Stephanie’s twin girls due May 2015; brothers-in-law, Philip Lord of Texas and James Lord of Redwood Falls, Minnesota; nieces, Diane (Lyle) Windsnes of International Falls, Minnesota, Nancy (Steve) Struss of Cambridge, Minnesota and Chris (Scott) Bredemeier of Eden Prairie and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, George and Phyllis Barber and his mother and father-in-law, Robert and Irene Lord.
