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James S. 'Jim' Stinson St Joseph, MN QCWA # 13854 Chapter 35 |
James Stanley Stinson of St. Joseph, MN died Tuesday, November 30, 2004 in his winter home in Casa Grande, AZ on his 83rd birthday.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 6, 2004 at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, MN. The Rev. Stacey Steck will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday, December 5, 2004 from 4 to 7 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be in Erie Cemetery, Erie, North Dakota.
Jim was born November 30, 1921 in his grandmother's home in Devils Lake, Ramsey County, ND to Henry Spencer and Blanche V. (Anderson) Stinson. He lived in Warwick and Devils Lake, ND. He married L. Marilyn Cameron on November 4, 1950 in Jamestown, ND.
In 1942, Jim joined the Air Force Cadets and then transferred to the Army Air Force where he was crew chief on B-17s and B-29s as a member of the 393rd Bomb Group during World War II. When the war ended in the Pacific in August 1945, Jim was sent to Smokey Hill Army AFB, Salina, KS. At Salina, he was put in charge of all B-29's on the base and ordered to get as many B-29s ready as fast as possible so the planes would be ready for a 'victory parade fly over' in Washington, DC. About 32 planes were repaired, inspected and tested. After being discharge from the Army, Jim began his college career. He earned an AA degree from Yuba College, Marysville, CA; a BS degree from Jamestown College; an MS in Industrial Technology from the University of North Dakota; and completed post graduate work in several locations. He liked to 'wow' listeners by telling them he went to school in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s!
From 1952 to 1965, Jim taught science and industrial arts in Sacramento, CA. He developed several specialties in graphic arts, foundry, copper enameling, and wood working. He served as president of the Sacramento Science Fair for several years and presented two class projects on television in the 1960s. He was the recipient of a visit to an aircraft carrier in Florida, gold mines in California, and a tour through the Livermore Nuclear Laboratory in California. From 1970 to 1975, Jim was as associate professor in the Industrial Arts Department at the University of North Dakota.
Jim was a professor in the Technology Department at St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN from 1975 to 1987. His specialties were graphic arts, electronics, and photo processing. He also taught vocational education courses on campus and around Central Minnesota., as well as teaching in England and Denmark.
He was awarded two National Science Foundation grants - South Dakota School of Mines and Utah State University in Logan; both were in math and science.
Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club, American Amateur Radio League, Academy of Model Aeronautics, St. Cloud RC Model Club, and the Minnesota Radio Controlled Soaring Society. His hobbies included: amateur radio (ham) since 1952 - his Extra Class rating helped him to reach new friends around the world; model airplanes from hand launch to soaring; creating and manufacturing tools and other projects. He always loved to design and build.
Survivors include his wife, L. Marilyn Stinson of St. Joseph, MN: children, Gregory J. (Penny) Stinson of Edina, MN; David R. (Battsetseg Lkhamjav) Stinson of Littleton, CO; Diane M. Rudeen of Olympia, WA; Gerald D. Stinson of St. Cloud, MN; six grandchildren, Anna and Eric Stinson of Edina, MN; Pvt. David J. Stinson of Fort Drum, NY; Corinne Stinson of Nashville, TN; Linnea and Karl Rudeen of Olympia, WA; and one brother, Henry S. Stinson of Brick, NJ.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers will be grandchildren; Corinne, Anna, Eric and Pvt. David J. Stinson, and Linnea and Karl Rudeen.