Mass of Christian Burial for James “Jim” Kirchner, 78, of Marshall, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Fulda. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with Military Honors will follow the service at St. Gabriel Catholic Cemetery in Fulda.
James “Jim” Edward Kirchner, son of Albert Herbert and Rosella Mary (Kelley) Kirchner, was born August 6, 1942 on a farm in Murray County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Fulda, MN. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Fulda High School in 1960. Growing up James liked farming, going to horse shows, riding horses, and making furniture in high school shop class. James remained on the farm helping his parents until he was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 10, 1964. During his service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and a Sharp Shooter Rifle Decoration. James was stationed in Germany as a Private First Class Radio Operator. Following his honorable discharge on November 23, 1966, he returned to the farm for a short while and then attended a Computer Programming School in California. James returned to Minnesota to farm on the home place with his Father. James moved to Marshall and worked at Pittsburgh Plate & Glass and Jenny O Foods. After the Jenny O Foods Plant closed James worked at a lumber yard in Montevideo, and assembled International farm equipment part time at a Marshall dealership until he retired. James made Marshall his retirement home. James liked going to the Marshall library, reading farm implement magazines, visiting International farm equipment dealers, long walks, watching the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings games, and visiting friends and relatives. He enjoyed travel to Farm Fest, County Fairs, and a tour to Door County in 2019.
James suddenly passed away at his home at the age of 78 years old on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, from natural causes. The Avera Home Health Care staff enjoyed visiting with James and said “James was a sweet man and with a kind heart.”
James is preceded in death by his parents, Albert Herbert & Rosella Mary (Kelley) Kirchner. He is survived by his sisters LaVerna (Jerome) Olsem of Fulda, Dorothy (Gerald) Helget of Sleepy Eye, Kathleen Wolf of Rochester; brother Anthony (Kathy) Kirchner, Sioux Falls, SD, and 16 nieces and nephews.
