1927
James
2016
James Chelmo
July 6, 1927 — April 18, 2016
Detroit Lakes resident , James "Nate" Chelmo, Age 88, died on Monday, April 18, 2016 at Ecumen-Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN. after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer's. A memorial service for Nate will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016 in the David-Donehower Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00 am. Chaplain Peter Gallatin
officiating, niece Kim Schnitzer soloist. James Nathan "Nate" Chelmo was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 6, 1927. He was the third of eight children born to Joseph and Harriet (Knouse) Chelmo. Nate went to school in Minneapolis and after school was often helping his Dad with the Kemps milk and ice cream delivery's. Often times holding the horses reigns while his dad ran the orders into the buildings. On April 30, 1949 James married the love of his life, the beautiful Juanita (Nita) Shore, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. While newly married Nate worked for Yellow Cab in Minneapolis. They soon began adding to their family and over the years they happily welcomed eight children; James Stephen, Thomas Mark, Karen Suzanne, Marie Christine, William Joseph, Patti Ann, David Paul, and Sharon May. During this time Nate drove truck for Rocket Transfer, Next to his wife and kids, Nate loved driving truck, and over his lifetime he spent 60 years driving truck. In 1964 James and Nita, along with brothers Sid (Pearl), Jerome (Renee), and Paul (Lorena) moved to Detroit Lakes after purchasing several semi-tractors and milk trailers as well as farm pickup trucks from Bud Howe and Clarence Jenson. They began using the trucks to haul milk for the North Star Dairy. In 1968 Nate sold out his share to his
brothers and moved back to Minneapolis where drove truck for Ben Franklin Stores. In 1978 Nate bought a little ice cream store in Rush City, Minnesota which he and Juanita ran for two years. At this time Nate was still driving truck as well. After retirement, Nate and Nita moved back to Detroit Lakes where they renewed acquaintances and spent time with family. They attended Trinity Lutheran Church and Nate worked part time driving for Fitzgerald Trucking out of Sabin, MN. For 14 years Nate and Nita enjoyed wintering in Yuma, Az. For a short time, Nate worked for Walmart in Detroit Lakes before his declining health forced him to stop. For the past 6 years he has been a resident on the Special Care Unit at Ecumen-Emmanuel Nursing Home, where he has been cared for so compassionately by the entire Emmanuel Nursing Home staff. Nate loved his family and would do anything for them. He gave special "nick-names" to all his family members.
Besides his passion for family and trucking, Nate loved reading newspapers, watching westerns, country music,
cheering for the Vikings and the Twins, doing yard work and gardening, his Black Labs;Bear Boy and Sheba, playing cards and dominos, traveling, collecting miniature cars, trucks and trains, and he love, love, loved eating pancakes and ice cream. Nate never knew a stranger, he loved to strike up a conversation and could visit for hours on end. He was a member of the 544 Truckers Union, and the Teamsters Union. Nate leaves behind his wife of almost 67 years, Juanita, six children; James Chelmo of Phoenix, AZ, Marie Luby of
Fargo, ND, William (Ellen) Chelmo of Detroit Lakes, Patti Thorson of Fargo, ND., David Chelmo (Gail Knight) of Perham, MN., Sharon (Steve) Dahring of Vergas, MN. Daughter-in-law Pat Chelmo of Maple Grove, MN, nine grandchildren; Thomas, Curt, Jesse, Jeremy, Patrick, Tara, Stephanie, Shane and Jordan and seven great-grandchildren. Two brothers; Jerome (Patricia) Chelmo and Paul (Lorena) Chelmo, both of Detroit Lakes. Brother-in-law Arlon Pyle of Minneapolis, and brother-in-law, Daryl Anderson of Crosslake, MN. Many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; Joseph and Harriet Chelmo, Step-mother; Thelma Chelmo, son; Thomas
Chelmo and daughter; Karen Kath, half-brother William Chelmo, one brother and sister-in-law; Sidney and Pearl
Chelmo, sisters; Joann Pyle and Delores Anderson, sister and brother-in-law Carol and Jerry Dudley, sister-in-law Renee Chelmo, infant grandson; Marcus Chelmo, and infant great grandchildren; Chase and Cruze. God Bless our every memory of our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Saturday, May 7, 2016
officiating, niece Kim Schnitzer soloist. James Nathan "Nate" Chelmo was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 6, 1927. He was the third of eight children born to Joseph and Harriet (Knouse) Chelmo. Nate went to school in Minneapolis and after school was often helping his Dad with the Kemps milk and ice cream delivery's. Often times holding the horses reigns while his dad ran the orders into the buildings. On April 30, 1949 James married the love of his life, the beautiful Juanita (Nita) Shore, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. While newly married Nate worked for Yellow Cab in Minneapolis. They soon began adding to their family and over the years they happily welcomed eight children; James Stephen, Thomas Mark, Karen Suzanne, Marie Christine, William Joseph, Patti Ann, David Paul, and Sharon May. During this time Nate drove truck for Rocket Transfer, Next to his wife and kids, Nate loved driving truck, and over his lifetime he spent 60 years driving truck. In 1964 James and Nita, along with brothers Sid (Pearl), Jerome (Renee), and Paul (Lorena) moved to Detroit Lakes after purchasing several semi-tractors and milk trailers as well as farm pickup trucks from Bud Howe and Clarence Jenson. They began using the trucks to haul milk for the North Star Dairy. In 1968 Nate sold out his share to his
brothers and moved back to Minneapolis where drove truck for Ben Franklin Stores. In 1978 Nate bought a little ice cream store in Rush City, Minnesota which he and Juanita ran for two years. At this time Nate was still driving truck as well. After retirement, Nate and Nita moved back to Detroit Lakes where they renewed acquaintances and spent time with family. They attended Trinity Lutheran Church and Nate worked part time driving for Fitzgerald Trucking out of Sabin, MN. For 14 years Nate and Nita enjoyed wintering in Yuma, Az. For a short time, Nate worked for Walmart in Detroit Lakes before his declining health forced him to stop. For the past 6 years he has been a resident on the Special Care Unit at Ecumen-Emmanuel Nursing Home, where he has been cared for so compassionately by the entire Emmanuel Nursing Home staff. Nate loved his family and would do anything for them. He gave special "nick-names" to all his family members.
Besides his passion for family and trucking, Nate loved reading newspapers, watching westerns, country music,
cheering for the Vikings and the Twins, doing yard work and gardening, his Black Labs;Bear Boy and Sheba, playing cards and dominos, traveling, collecting miniature cars, trucks and trains, and he love, love, loved eating pancakes and ice cream. Nate never knew a stranger, he loved to strike up a conversation and could visit for hours on end. He was a member of the 544 Truckers Union, and the Teamsters Union. Nate leaves behind his wife of almost 67 years, Juanita, six children; James Chelmo of Phoenix, AZ, Marie Luby of
Fargo, ND, William (Ellen) Chelmo of Detroit Lakes, Patti Thorson of Fargo, ND., David Chelmo (Gail Knight) of Perham, MN., Sharon (Steve) Dahring of Vergas, MN. Daughter-in-law Pat Chelmo of Maple Grove, MN, nine grandchildren; Thomas, Curt, Jesse, Jeremy, Patrick, Tara, Stephanie, Shane and Jordan and seven great-grandchildren. Two brothers; Jerome (Patricia) Chelmo and Paul (Lorena) Chelmo, both of Detroit Lakes. Brother-in-law Arlon Pyle of Minneapolis, and brother-in-law, Daryl Anderson of Crosslake, MN. Many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; Joseph and Harriet Chelmo, Step-mother; Thelma Chelmo, son; Thomas
Chelmo and daughter; Karen Kath, half-brother William Chelmo, one brother and sister-in-law; Sidney and Pearl
Chelmo, sisters; Joann Pyle and Delores Anderson, sister and brother-in-law Carol and Jerry Dudley, sister-in-law Renee Chelmo, infant grandson; Marcus Chelmo, and infant great grandchildren; Chase and Cruze. God Bless our every memory of our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Previous Events
ServiceSaturday, May 7, 2016
10:00 AM
David-Donehower Funeral Home
609 Hwy 10 East
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
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