James Zierden

James Nickolas Zierden was born on August 17, 1933, in Sauk Centre, MN, to James and Christine (Feldewerd) Zierden. He grew up in Sauk Centre and graduated from Sauk Centre High School. Jim worked for the telephone company for a few years before being drafted into the U.S. Army Signal Corps. On September 3, 1956, he was united in marriage to Alice Mueller in St. Paul. After Jim’s honorable discharge, he continued working for the telephone company. He worked in Willmar until transferring to Marshall in 1971. Jim retired from the telephone company in 1985, and then drove charter and school buses for Southwest Coaches for ten years. Jim was a very talented handyman and enjoyed carpentry work of all types. Jim and Alice delivered meals on wheels for many years. His family was very important to him and he always made time for family vacations to the mountains out west. His faith was also very important. Jim was an active member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and served in a variety of ways including as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Holy Redeemer School Board of Education. Jim died on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall after a courageous two year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Alice, of Marshall, children Terri (and Joe) Jensen of Marshall, Jim (and Val) Zierden of Casper, WY, Maria Zierden of Willmar, Ann (and Todd) Theisen of St. Cloud, John Zierden of Medford, OR, grandchildren Josh, Jerrie, Julie, Trinity, Tony, Emily, Lukas and Allison, four great-grandchildren,and brother Boniface Zierden of Stanchfield, MN, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, three brothers and two infant siblings.