James Sannes

James A. Sannes, age 67, of rural Erskine, MN, passed away on Sunday (November 11th) at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday (November 17th) at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine.James Arthur Sannes was born at home on October 11, 1940 to Arthur and Julia M. (Berglund) Sannes. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine, Minnesota. He attended Erskine Elementary and High School graduating in 1958. During his high school years he was an exceptional basketball player. During his last year of high school he and a friend went to Montana and worked during the summer on large grain farms. He also worked hauling sugar beets on farms near Fisher, Minnesota.After high school he attended the vocational school in Thief River Falls and took up auto mechanics. He was employed at the Forkenbrock Garage for some time before being drafted into the United States Army in 1963. During his Army time, he was stationed in various places including Fort Sam Houston at the Medical Training Center in San Antonio, Texas, the Mohave Desert in California, Fort Leonardwood in Missouri and Fort Riley, Kansas with the 93rd Evac Unit. He attained Spec 4 and worked mainly in hospitals including the nursery sections. During this time he found a life-time friend, Jim Schlagel.After the service he worked at Eikoff Construction in Crookston, Minnesota. There he helped make courtroom furniture including elaborate judge�s benches. He farmed the home farm and also had milk cows for several years. For some time he had a milk pickup service with the local creamery. He also worked on the farms of David Hamre and Alvin Thompson.In earlier years, he loved to play cards and was an excellent pool player. He loved to read, garden, and was an excellent baker and cook. He was proud that he made a batch of home made bread from scratch every week. He loved cutting wood and working in the woods. Another of his hobbies was feeding the birds. In the last year, Jim had purchased a computer and was enjoying surfing the internet and keeping up on current events. He enjoyed many visits on politics and world events over the years with his best friend, Bernard Kaster.He had been a caregiver to his mother in later years, when she was failing in health, before she moved to the nursing home. Jim was an honest, kindhearted man. May his memory be blessed.James passed away on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at his home at the age of 67 years.He is survived by his sister, Laurel Nabben of Thief River Falls, MN; his friend, Clinton L. Castle of Holt, MN; his aunt, Eleanore Berglund of Grand Rapids, MN and numerous first cousins and other family relatives.He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Arthur and Julia M. Sannes; several aunts, uncles and his special cousin, Janice Kaster.Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim�s neighbors and friendsActive Pallbearers will be Paul Kaster, Bernard Kaster, Greg Kaster, Randy Nowacki, Jim Schlagel, Keith Sannes, David Hamre, and Ted Berglund.