Jim passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 26, 2019, at his home in Granada.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials are preferred to United Hands Hospice in Blue Earth.

Heaven just got a little more interesting. At the age of 84, after a valiant fight with cancer, Jim Mathiason shook the hand of God on March 26, 2019. His feisty spirit and zest for life will not be forgotten by his friends and family alike. He was a man that never really stood still, remaining active until the end. Jim had a knack on how to fix and repair things, a skill set he demonstrated during most of his life. In his youth, Jim pursued his dream of training horses while living on a Montana ranch one summer and was also invited to a tryout for the Milwaukee Braves baseball team.

James Leroy Mathiason was born March 21, 1935, in Fraser Township, Martin County, Minn., to Sam and Mary Mathiason. At the age of 7, the family moved to a farm southwest of Bemidji, Minn., where he attended the Nary rural school.

He was married to Phyllis Arlene Pochardt on Sept. 20, 1953, and they soon after relocated to southern Minnesota, where Jim worked on two different farms.

In 1957, the family moved to Mankato, where Jim’s talent to repair things was part of his success at the local IH dealership.

In 1979, Jim and Phyllis moved to the Granada area, where he started farming with his brother Gary and where he continued to farm until his retirement in 2001.

During these years Jim was part-owner of a successful farm repair shop which is now owned by his nephew, Jeff Mathiason.

The couple were married for 58 years prior to Phyllis death in 2011. The marriage was blessed with 3 sons, 3 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Jim’s passions in his later years were fishing, woodworking and helping on the farm when needed.

The family would like to recognize Caroline Goehring for her companionship during the last 5 years, greatly helping to enrich Jim’s life.

Survivors include sons, Dennis Mathiason and wife, Cindy of Armstrong, Iowa, Dean Mathiason and wife, Sandie of Emmons, Minn.; granddaughter, Nicole Hintz and husband Rod of Richfield, Minn.; grandsons, Scott Mathiason and wife, Hayley of Hinton, Iowa, Will Mathiason and wife, Kristina of Worthing, S.D.; great-grandchildren, Connor Hintz, Jaci Hintz, Duncan Mathiason, Hudson Mathiason, Magnus Mathiason, Kristi Mathiason and Jaxyn Mathiason.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Mary; wife, Phyllis; son, George; brothers, Orrin, Carl, Ron and Gary; sisters, Annette, Elsa, Erlene, Leana, Marie, Charlotte and two infant sisters.

The family ask that you “smile” as you think of Jim and how he impacted your life. In lieu of flowers, it is asked that a contribution be made to the “Blue Earth Hospice Team.”

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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