James Lindstrom, 77
Deer, pheasant, and walleye across Minnesota breathed a collective sigh of relief as news spread among the wildlife community that James W. Lindstrom, age 77 of Kimball, formerly of Edina, passed into the hands of our Lord on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Graveside Services with military honors will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Assembly Area #3. A Celebration of Life to honor Jim will be held 5:30-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington.
James Warren Lindstrom was born on Nov. 23, 1947, in Minneapolis, to Ernest and LaVoune (Solitt) Lindstrom.
Growing up in Bloomington, Jim jumped skis, crashed motorcycles, and was an absolute menace to any tasty animal crazy enough to cross his path. A prolific hunter and fisherman, it is a miracle that he was not killed long before now based on his almost pathological habit of laughing in the face of danger on his many adventures to hunt and fish, regardless of safety considerations … or ski jump, also while ignoring safety entirely because, “Only sissies wore helmets back then.” – That is a quote.
Jim served his country in the U.S. Army, where he lucked into a spot on the ski patrol in Garmisch, Germany. Unfortunately, his luck ran out when jumping from a gondola platform onto an avalanche slide with very little snow, as his partner for the day had beaten him by a split second. His ski patrol career ended when he hit the ground that day and broke his leg.
Jim broke his leg again some years later on his way to propose to Jane Williams. After healing, Jim found his soulmate on a blind date after losing a gentleman’s wager with his best friend and his cousin. It was a gamble that paid off for over 50 years. He married Jane Williams on Dec. 7, 1974, in Bloomington. Together, they raised their family in Bloomington, primarily on the slopes of the Bush Lake Ski Jump, where Jim worked tirelessly to keep and maintain the ski jumps. In 2021, Jim and Jane made the move to Kimball.
Jim was a man who relished every moment he spent in the great outdoors. He often said he didn’t need to go to church because his church was the outdoors. Life’s joys came alive when he cast his fishing line into the lakes or embarked on hunting trips as a bluegrass music aficionado. This man was absolutely nuts about dogs. Some people say that you can tell if a person is any good by the reaction of dogs; some of those same people would be smart to use Jim’s opinion to tell if a dog is any good. Jim leaves behind his best dog friends, Coconut and Mac.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jeremiah Lindstrom, and siblings Christine Loiselle and Julia Lindstrom.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife; son Josh (and Christine) Lindstrom of Virginia Beach, Va.; grandchildren Annika and Finn; sister Linda (and Wayne) Roth; nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, Jodi (and Matt) Workcuff, Daniel (and Stephanie) Roth, Eric (and Cheryl) Roth, and other family members and friends.
Arrangements entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Kimball.
Obituary, Guestbook and Video Tribute online at www.dingmann
funeral.com.