James Nick Marudas

Memorial services for James Nick Marudas, age 88, of Milaca, will be held on Monday, July 2, 2012 at 11 AM at St. Louis Catholic Church in Foreston with Fr. Jim Remmerswaal, OSC officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Milaca. Military honors will be provided by Hansen-Hayes American Legion Post #178 & Siemers-Hakes VFW Post #10794. Arr. Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca. Jim Marudas was born February 26th 1924 in Hinckley, MN to Nick and Stella Marudas. He moved to Milaca with his dad in 1934 when his dad bought the Chevrolet garage. Jim graduated from Milaca High School in 1942, was drafted into the Army and served 3 years. On return from the Army, he joined the State Guard and rose to the rank of Sergeant 1st class. He married Leota Jenison in 1949. Jim bought the Dray Line and hauled freight for various businesses. He had three trucks hauling mail, powdered milk, coal, brick, lumber and assisted in moving people. He started plumbing with Carl Johnson, Doug Henschel and eventually ended up working for Jensen Andersen Company. He also farmed 120 acres at this time and rented another 120 acres. In Jim’s words, “I never could have handled this without the A#1 wife & the best of kids”. He went to work for Midwest Gas Transmission in 1969 and rose to the title of Field Accountant 1, working under Superintendents Tom Mead, Slim Stinson, and Willard Landerville. What he really enjoyed was construction work. He built many new houses in his spare time. He loved to reminisce about spending two years in Greenland, his time in Vietnam working at the Tonsanute Air Base, and worked as a union carpenter in Minot and East Grand Forks, building 7 concrete buildings. After retirement from Tenneco in 1984, he started going out for them as a Pipe Line Inspector. He worked on the east coast (Connecticut, Massachusetts & Rhode Island), the west coast (Wyoming to southern California) and the Red River Valley (Warren, Hallock and Ada). He always enjoyed helping friends and family with their “Big Jobs”. He helped build the AA building in Milaca; he assisted with plumbing and heating in the St. Mary’s church. He tended the grounds at the St. Mary’s cemetery for 7 years and assisted Gary Eggen in building the stone entry to the cemetery. Jim took pride in his yard; building many stone walls, paths, even a 4-story tree house. He loved gardening, doing apples, raising llamas, mowing lawn and spending time with family. He was most proud of his 63 years of marriage, his 5 children, assistance with establishing the Catholic Church in Milaca, his work and prayer. Jim died suddenly on Friday June 29th while attending church in Foreston. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Stella Marudas, infant brother, Herbie, step mother, Clara Marudas, brother John Marudas, and sister Betty Koslowski. He is survived by his wife, Leota Marudas, step brother and sister, Russell Hill and Dorothy LeTourneau, children, Georgene (Dave) Ingwell of Remer, Randy (Tammy) Marudas of Milaca, Luann (Dave) Palmquist of Foreston, Joe (Melissa) Marudas of Milaca, Liza (John) Kisch of Eden Prairie, 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Jim’s advice: Pray a lot, Work Hard, Play Hard, Lead a conservative life, exercise and a happy life will find it’s natural course.