James Francis Grossman

James Francis Grossman
January 5, 1934 – April 21, 2017
Funeral Notice
 

James Francis Grossman, age 83, of Benson, died at his home surrounded by family on Friday morning, April 21, 2017. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 25 at 10:30 am at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, April 24 at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, with a Rosary at 4:00 pm and a Parish Prayer service and a time for sharing memories at 6:00 pm. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Interment will follow the service at the St. Francis Catholic Church Cemetery in Benson. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested toward a memorial bench in Benson.
James Francis Grossman was born Jan. 5, 1934 to Mike and Agnes (Leuthard) Grossman at home on a farm south of Chokio, MN and grew up there.   He was baptized and confirmed in St. Mary’s Catholic Church and in 1952 graduated from Chokio High School.  When his brother, Gordon, returned from the Korean War, Jim enlisted in the US Army from 1954-1956 and spent most of his time in the service deployed to Germany.  During this time, he learned of his brother Ray’s death in an Air Force jet crash in Chandler, Arizona.  After his military service to our country,  he attended plumbing, heating and air conditioning school on the GI bill at Wahpeton School of Science, Wahpeton, North Dakota.
June 29th, 1957, he married Margaret Schuster. They lived on 18th Street No. in Benson for 16 years after which they moved to a farm near Benson.   God blessed them with 9 marvelous, beloved children.
He worked 7 years for Hawley’s before starting his own plumbing and heating business in 1963.  After many years of offering customer satisfaction he sold the business to his brother, Cletus, and went on to golf course irrigation which he operated the same way with honesty, promptness, and serving the customer well.  In his retirement, he continued serving the public with his Christmas tree and tree moving businesses.  In 1975, he was appointed by Governor LeVander as Swift County Deputy Registrar and in 1992-93 was president of the Minnesota Deputy Registrar’s Association.
Jim loved sports and especially playing softball and baseball, and was part of the Benson area’s baseball team that played in the 1962 state tournament.  He was an active member of the Benson Baseball Boosters.  He played and co-managed the Drugs and Plugs softball team with Larry Kenyon. They also co-sponsored a women’s Pains and Drains softball team.  Jim was an active member and 1966 president of the local Jaycees, and in 1969 was Benson’s Outstanding Young Man.  He loved hunting, bowling, cards, cribbage, and all kinds of fun and games with family and friends.  Jim took the family on fun trips as far away as Europe. He made friends easily and loved hanging out with “the guys”.  Jim was a faithful member of St. Francis church and was an active life member of the Knights of Columbus and life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels.  He was active in politics and felt it was important for everyone to participate.
Jim died at his home surrounded by family on Friday morning, April 21, 2017.  He attained the age of 83 years, 3 months and 16 days.
Jim is survived by his wife, Margaret Grossman of Benson; 9 children: Dina (Philippe) Dubeaux of Paris, France, Judith (Tom) Griffin of Avon, MN, Mike (Dawn) Grossman of Benson, MN, Annette (Tom) Rabusch of Corcoran, MN, Lecia (John Booth) Grossman of Minneapolis, MN, Stan (Julie) Grossman of Grand Rapids, MN, Mary (Chris) Scavotto of Minneapolis, MN, Sarah Grossman of Phoenix, AZ, and Tony (Sarah Hoffman) Grossman of St. Paul, MN; 20 grandchildren: Anéva Dubeaux, Chris Romanoski, Joe, Cora and Ray Griffin, Amanda Carruth, Peter Grossman, Jacob, Emma and Nathan Rabusch, Noah, Seth, Abigale, and Samuel Grossman, Lucia, Gia and Theo Scavotto, and Layla, Hazel and Bodhi Grossman; 10 great-grandchildren; siblings: Rose Anne Bowe, Sister Charlene Grossman, Cletus Grossman, and Kate (Jay) Powell; and sisters-in-law, Barbara Grossman and Mary Ellen Grossman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Agnes Grossman; brothers: Gordon, Ray, Oliver and Leo (Lee) Grossman; brother-in-law, Bill Bowe; and sister-in-law, Judy Grossman.
Please sign the guest book at:  www.zniewskifuneralhome.com