James (Jim) Fishbaugher, 90, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, formerly of Edina, Minnesota died Sunday, August 1,2021.
Jim was born March 2, 1931, in Winona, Minnesota to Glenn and Dorothy (McCarthy) Fishbaugher. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa before earning his teaching degree from Winona State University. He was a long time elementary teacher in the Minneapolis and Edina school systems.
He is survived by sisters Mary Smith (Jack ) of Burnsville, Minnesota and Katherine (Louie) Fine (James) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a sister-in-law Louise Fishbaugher of Wenatchee, Washington and many nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Father Robert Abotzabire of Ghana. A brother, John, preceded him in death.
Jim was a kind and considerate person who always supported others, especially with his gift of prayer.
Mass of Christian Burial Thursday (8/12), 11 AM with visitation starting at 10 AM at the Church of Our Lady of Grace, Edina with Fr. Thomas Dufner as the celebrant. The committal of Jim’s cremains will be Friday (8/20), 11 AM at Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to "The Hearth" at McKenna Crossing in Prior Lake, to Father Robert's Parish in Ghana c/o of Katherine Fine, or a charity of your choice.
Memories about Uncle Jim
Mark Fishbaugher: I have a couple stories of Uncle Jim. The first is when Glenn (maybe 10 years old) and I visited him in his small apartment. Jim asked Glenn to count the mirrors. Glenn came back with some absurd number like 30 and was shocked to learn that the actual number was north of 40. What followed was a pretty hilarious reveal of the dozen or so mirrors he had missed in places like behind clothes hanging in closets, the back side cabinet doors and the lie. Glenn has never forgotten that.
The second story dates back a little further. Jim recounted a story from teaching days. He did a heads-down poll of his elementary class. “Who wants to go to recess…..who wants to stay and do another math lesson...well the math lesson has it.”
McKenzie Meaney (great niece): When I think of Uncle Jim, board games pop into my head. I have many fond memories of playing board games with him at the cabin in Minnesota, at his home, or at my grandparents house. One of Uncle Jim's favorite board games to play was Rumikube. After an intense game, Uncle Jim would be so proud of his victory that he would write in the cover of the game box the date and that he won. Every time I play Rummikub I will think of Uncle Jim and know he is watching down on us smiling as we play.
Tim Murphy (nephew): BEIGE- most people refer to it as “tan”, but Beige is the official color of uncle jim. His typical uniform in my memory includes a spiffy beige turtleneck contrasted by a slightly darker tone of beige corduroy pants highlighted by a pair of beige suede shoes and topped by a beige wool scully cap. This of course was perfect camo for his residence. Beige woven wool carpet ensured you left your dirty shoes at the door, two-toned beige wallpaper kept his silhouette to a minimum, beige cloth napkins accented the beige placemats and stoneware dishes always on display. If there were such a tree as beige It surely would have replaced the beautifully polished walnut that embellished his home.
WHISTLE: I am pretty convinced that UJ was not born of the womb but rather hatched from an egg- he could whistle like a bird! I always remember being there in Winona and he would be up with the birds and singing right along with them and secretly trying to wake us up (teenage years) at the crack of 11 am! Walking around the yard, pruning the roses and feeding them that awful fish emulsion whistling whatever songs were in his head. He never needed a walkman, iTunes or even a stereo, UJ was in fact a one man band!
DIRT: I never once heard UJ use a four letter word, but if there was one it would be dirt. Dirt was in fact the enemy and he fought a hard battle for justice every single day. I think that is one reason he could never sit still. There was always the threat that dirt would be infiltrating his life and the anxiety perpetuated his drive to patrol the house, the car, his clothes and even peripherally on neighboring lands to make sure that dirt was eliminated. He is the only guy I know that could garden in a full beige outfit all day and somehow not get dirty! Think about how many brooms he wore through in his life….
Sleep Driving: HIs giant 1970’s era cars were just a floating luxury couch with wheels and a large engine in it. Anyone driving it would surely fall asleep almost immediately upon entry. Not sure how all that worked, but it was likely the inspiration for the song “jesus take the wheel” and the emergence of ‘faith driving’. Roadside maps probably saved a lot of insurance claims. I'll just leave it at that….
Penmanship: In a world where most people have to type what they write so that it is remotely legible (guilty), UJ took a view of writing as a form of art. Something wonderful about that if you take the time to really think about it.
And all, always with a smile and distinctively boisterous laugh that you could pick out of any large crowd. His spirit was always contagious joy which is what I think people loved about him the most. You know for sure that there has been a long-standing reservation at a special seat at the table in heaven
Mary Smith (sister): Jim loved to party! Not in the sense one might think of “party” in today’s world, but he truly did party in his own very elegant way, one not often seen today. His home was filled with interesting antiques that he loved to collect. Finding them and then bringing them back to give them an extended life was something he loved to do. That extended life was often made possible with the help of our Dad, who also loved restoring and refinishing the projects that Jim would keep him busy with.
If you were invited to a dinner in Jim’s house, you might be greeted by a table perfectly set in every way possible! He had 2 sets of Haviland China that he loved, and all of the sterling silverware and serving pieces to go with everything! There would be fresh flowers on the table also. This is a trait he learned at home, because we grew up in a home where our mother entertained a lot, especially for Dad’s college functions. He and Louie both inherited that bug- me, not so much!
He partied in a very different way when he rented a house in the country. He loved having his 3rd graders and their families out for an afternoon of fun and a meal, casual style!
He did love teaching 3rd grade and was so well liked he always had many parent volunteers who liked being in his classroom doing this and that for him and the children. When he first taught in Minneapolis itself, he tells of often sending some of his 6th graders to the Convention Grill, just down the street from Morningside school, where he taught, to get him some lunch. Imagine doing that in today’s world! To this day, that's a favorite place of his to go for a good hamburger and milkshake, either there or Snuffy’s in Edina.
He had looked into retirement homes before the need arose. Nephew Mike took him there to pick out his apartment and helped Louie and family move Jim into The Glen, in Hopkins. He loved his years at the Glen, particularly because of the Chapel they have along with a regular Mass schedule.Daily Mass has always been the most important part of his life!
When it became necessary for him to receive more care, he was blessed in finding McKenna Crossing as his new home. One could not have asked for a more caring and comfortable place to have spent these last years, where he has truly felt very much a home, well loved and cared for! We are most grateful for all that they have done for him!
Janet (niece): Having the dubious honor of being the oldest of Uncle Jim’s nieces and nephews, my earliest memories of him came from family pictures and gifts that would arrive for our family at Christmas. We still have a beautiful nativity set that he sent and several of his antique treasures.
During our occasional summer visits to Minnesota from Washington State, we learned that Uncle Jim was an elementary teacher, had a lovely home with lots of mirrors and in the interest of safety, it was best not to ask him any questions while he was driving. For you see, he was prone to taking his eyes off the road for prolonged periods of time while pointing out important Minnesota landmarks or answering our questions. I’m happy to report we survived these white-knuckle moments unscathed.
While Uncle Jim may have had a casual relationship with driving, he was serious about his Catholic faith and helping others. Early on he began a life of prayer and service to those in need which was both admirable and inspiring. Uncle Ji, was a kindhearted man who spent a lifetime in service to others in his professional life as a teacher and in his personal life as a caring brother, uncle, and friend. During a particular tender time in my life he sent me a beautiful Mass Intention Card with a note saying I was in his prayers. I know others have also received such kind and loving messages.
While I am not sure how the afterlife works, I would imagine that Uncle Jim will continue to keep us in his prayers from his new home in heaven. Let us keep Jim in our prayers.
Louie Fine (sister): Sunday night August first, Jim passed away this morning. Sitting down at the table tonight, the first thing I did was to open the blinds to look out at the backyard, it seems so peaceful, I looked at the sky and beyond the darkness there’s one star up there (the only one I see) in the sky tonight. Even though it is far away it’s brightness and warmth still reaches me to make the night a little less dark. My thoughts go to my brother Jim, I am sure he is one eternal light shining brightly like he did during his life.
Jim was 12 years old when I was born, I am the youngest of the four siblings. Mary was 9 years old, and I have been told, as my mom and dad left for the hospital, Mary stood on the landing of our steps and said “If I can’t have a pony I guess a baby sister would DO!!” I was named Katherine Ann. I guess I never heard what they all called me because my name changed when I was two months old… Brother Jim was changing my diaper and my leg kept kicking out of the diaper. Our neighbors on the next hill from us, had chickens, one of which was crippled, and it’s name was LOUIE, most of you know the rest of the story, and this nickname has stuck for 78 years!! THANKS JIM 😊
Being the youngest of four I suppose I often would get in their way. Jim on a few occasions found things for me to do that would keep me busy (and he as well). HE was working in the yard and said he needed a “sky hook”!
Would I please go to the Burroes (a block and a half behind our place) and ask if they would happen to have a “sky hook” that Jim could borrow? Of course he had called ahead to tell them and asked if they would send me to the Nelton’s, they would send me to Salisbury’s etc etc all at least a block from on another! I was gone at least an hour to hour and a half! Jim had a great sense of humor! Jim and Mary were painting a vertical board fence, he asked me to “Go call Dr. Madison, ask him if he has striped paint?” Dr. Madison said he did not think he did but he would look! About an hour later he showed up on the hill with a gallon paint can and said “I did not have striped paint but I did have polkadot, will this do?” These are just three examples of some of the crazy things my big brother had up his sleeve!
Our family loved our little slice of heaven, on top of a hill in Winona. Growing up there was a blessing to all of us! The roots we established there were a big draw that we all felt we wanted to share with our families. I was the one with family who lived closest and able to take my kids to Winona most frequently. Jim was there as he spent most of his summers in Winona, and he always had a job to keep the kids busy yet have fun! He, along with our parents, were always there with warm welcoming hugs! My kids Tim, Molly and Tom grew up going to spend a week or two in Winona with me and were blessed to be close to bother Grandpa, Grandma and “Uncle Jim” as our parents grew older, THANKS TO JIM he enabled them to be able to stay on “The Hill”! When late fall arrived he would help them drive to Texas, and later years to stay with Mary and Jack in Harrisburg for the Winter.
Jim helped countless others in ways we will never know! Dinner parties were done to perfection, according to Emily post, the Bible for how things were done correctly! Jim said “I love my teaching job, it is not work, because I love what I do!” His kids were his family and his classroom as close to feeling at home as possible. He even had drapes (burlap of course) that covered his blackboards so as he taught the lesson he covered the messy chalk board up until the last 15 minutes of the day when all the kids were assigned a job to tidy up the room for the day! He entertained his family of kids along with parents and some grandparents at his home in the country. For a fun filled day ending with a picnic.
The most important thing in life was his true love, God. He started everyday, if it was possible, going to Mass and receiving the Blessed Sacrament, and most evenings he would make a visit either to a chapel or Adoration Chapel. He led a life of example, though his daily life.
His faith, family, friends, love of nature and his students were his life.
Rest in Peace Bro Jim!
Jana (great niece): Uncle Jim was the sweetest, kindest, most joyful man that I remember from my childhood. I remember always being so excited to see him because he was always so excited to see me and my family. He would always greet me with a huge smile and an even bigger hug.
I remember feeling safe with him and looking forward to seeing him at my family gatherings. I considered him “my favorite” when we went to my grandparents house. My most treasured memory is sitting on his lap when I was just a little girl and him reading stories to me. He had a huge heart and will be very missed.
Prayers and Love.
Visitation one hour before the Mass at the church.
The committal of Jim's cremains will be Friday (8/20), 11 AM at Woodlawn Cemetery, Winona.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to "The Hearth" at McKenna Crossing in Prior Lake, to Father Robert's Parish in Ghana c/o of Katherine Fine, or a charity of your choice.
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