James Brewer

James Brewer August 11, 1936 - May 3, 2011

James L. Brewer, age 74 of rural Janesville, died on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at Immanuel-St. Joseph''s Mayo Health System in Mankato. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 7th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John''s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alma City, with Rev. Keith Bilitz officiating. Interment will be in the Alma City cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 6th from 4 to 8 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville and will continue on Saturday for one hour prior to services at church. James Leon was born on August 11, 1936 to Gerald and Laura (Ward) Brewer in Mankato Minnesota. Jim was baptized and confirmed at St. John''s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Clair. He graduated from St. Clair High School in 1955. Jim entered the United States Army on July 14, 1955 and served his country until his honorable discharge on May 2, 1957. On August 25, 1957 he was united in marriage to Violet Marie Roeker at St. John''s Evangelical Church in Alma City. Jim and Violet farmed south of St. Clair for the first two years of their marriage. In 1959 Jim and Violet moved their family to their Freedom Township farm in Waseca County. During that time he also attended the University of Minnesota-Waseca, where he studied agriculture. In addition to farming Jim also had a 20 year career with Brown Printing in Waseca. He was a lifelong member of St. John''s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alma City where he served as superintendent for both St. John''s Parochial School as well as the church''s Sunday school. Jim enjoyed fishing, woodworking, farming, yard work, and time spent with his family. Jim was known by his family and friends for baking cookies and pies! Jim had a strong faith, and was committed to reading his daily devotions. He is survived by his daughters Sheryl (Merrill) Dahle of Waseca, Janet (Armin) Krause of Chaska, and Barbara (Scott) Eisen of Lewisville, TX; by his sons John Brewer of Waseca, Kevin Brewer (special friend Pam Wolfe) of Princeton, and Timothy (Bobbi) Brewer of Mankato; by his twelve grandchildren; by his mother Laura Brewer of Mapleton and his sister Sandra (Sidney) Nyhusmoen of Glenwood. He was preceded in death by his wife Violet on October 8, 2010, and his father Gerald on March 8, 1982. Casketbearers are Jim''s grandchildren: Paul Eisen, Tanner Eisen, Nicole Eisen, Dillon Eisen, Nathan Krause, Mitchell Krause, Tylor Brewer, Kaden Brewer, Kara Brewer, Emily Brewer, Alex Dahle, and Kimberly Dahle.