James McCarthy

James Alcuin McCarthy was born January 19, 1926, in Detroit Lakes. He was the son of Clarence and Catherine (Fraser) McCarthy. He attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and Detroit Lakes Public School. Following his junior year of high school, Jim was drafted by the Army in 1944 and served in the 77th Infantry Division in Japan during WWII. He received a purple heart and a bronze star and was honorably discharged in 1946. Jim was enrolled at St. John's University in the fall of 1946. When his father passed way Jim quit school and took care of his mother and three younger siblings who were still at home in Detroit Lakes. He bought and ran the City Delivery. Jim met the love of his life at a Pavilion dance one summer night in Detroit Lakes. The following summer he married Elizabeth Krzmarzick on June 17th, 1953, in Garrison, North Dakota. Jim lived on Dead Shot Bay for over 50 years. He and Elizabeth had 10 children. He owned the City Delivery service for over 50 years and he delivered everything but babies. He also drove a school bus for Schultz's Garage for 43 years. Jim loved local history. He not only knew the area roads inside and out but he likely knew something about you, your uncle, your grandma, your cousin, your next-door neighbor--whether it was 60 years ago or a week ago. Jim loved Detroit Lakes. He never wanted to take a vacation because he would miss the melting of the snow, the turning of the leaves, the first call of the loon, or the first snowfall. However, an exception to this was Ireland to where he did travel on a trip of a lifetime with his sister Liz and his brothers Frank and Tom. Jim loved playing the harmonica, visiting, hiking in the woods, writing letters, hunting, fishing, taking pictures and movies, collecting stamps, playing practical jokes, sledding in the winter, playing sports in every season, watching Notre Dame football, eating pancakes, telling stories. Jim loved people and people loved Jim. He served as a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop #647. Jim served on various committees at Holy Rosary and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a former Grand Knight.

Jim will be remembered and dearly missed by his nine children: Clarence (Stephanie) of Sparks, NV; Tim (Tammy) of Long Lake; Brian (Joyce) of Adrian; Susan (Dan) Korf of Rochert; Mark of Victoria; Malachy (Kris) of Lake City; Marian (Doug) Beumer of Minneapolis; Justin (Michele) of Minnetonka; Carol of Detroit Lakes; twenty-three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; cousins, John and Rita McCarthy of St. Paul and Agnes Schwantz of Perham; brother-in-law John and Roma Jacoby; sister-in-law Ethel McCarthy, and sister-in-law Margaret McCarthy, brother-in-law Dick Ruegemer. Preceding Jim in death are his wife Elizabeth, one daughter, Jeanne, his mother and father Catherine and Clarence; his ten siblings: Joe, George, Mary Brandser, Kate Jacoby, Elizabeth Schiller, Frank, Rosemary Bliss, Patricia Kraemer, Tom and Marlene Ruegemer.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, January 21, 2011
Service
Saturday, January 22, 2011

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