Jim was born Nov. 26, 1946, on the Michael Family Homestead in Mercer County, Mo., the son of Ervin and Pearl (Michael) Pietan. He went to grade school and most of high school in Fairmont, Minn. In 1965, he graduated from Central High School in Sioux City, Iowa. He attended Worthington Community College and earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he continued his education in a graduate program, chemical dependency studies. On Sept. 17, 1972, Jim married Georgia “Jo” Morgan at Minneopa State Park in Mankato and they later divorced after 26 years of marriage and many wonderful memories created. Jim was a Regional Vice President for the American Cancer Society, a District Manager for Combined Insurance and insurance salesman for Modern Woodmen, car salesman in Mankato, employed at Mankato Carton, a cook at The Barn in Madison Lake, and recently he catered for horse shows in Judson. On July 21, 2007, he married Kim Brown in Nicollet and they were married 14 years with many more wonderful memories made with the blended family – they were separated in 2020. Jim was an avid card player, loved to cook, enjoyed aquariums, wildlife, and cherished his time with his family. He also enjoyed canning, cooking, hunting, fishing, watching sports, including the Minnesota Vikings, and morel mushroom hunting. He is survived by his daughters, Sara (Erick) Raygor of Lake Crystal, Amber Pietan of Lake Crystal, and Jonna (Seth) Zarbano of Kasota, and their mother, Georgia “Jo” Morgan Pietan of Lake Crystal; grandchildren, Corey (Katie) Raygor of North Mankato, Andrew Gaard of Lake Crystal, Christopher Raygor of Lake Crystal, Brad Laidig of Madelia, Ashley Raygor (fiancé, Matt Larsen) of Mankato, Shaley Zarbano of Kasota, Lucas Pietan of Lake Crystal, and Tavian Zarbano of Kasota; great-grandchildren, Aubrie, Coletyn, Jamie, Levi, Mayson, and Renly; stepchildren, Chelsey Jones of Chaska, MaCalester Simmons of Mankato, Alyssa Simmons of Nicollet and their mother, Kim Brown of Nicollet; siblings, Julie (Jake) Theisen of Sioux City, Iowa, Steve (Elaine) Rasmussen of Sioux City, and Pat Rasmussen of North Mankato; sisters-in-law, Pam Pietan of Mankato, and Mary Pietan of Atlantic Beach, Fla.; great-aunt, Jeannine Rasmussen of Dolliver, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, neighbors and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Ervin (Irene) Pietan; mother, Pearl (Arnold) Rasmussen, his stepfather, Arnold Rasmussen, his stepmother, Irene Pietan; brothers, Michael Pietan and Jerald Pietan; uncle, Norman Pietan; aunt, Nina (Pietan) Musser; niece, Stacie Rasmussen Cherkas. Memorial gifts may be directed to Jim’s family to P.O. Box 662 Lake Crystal, MN 56055.

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