August 13, 1936 – November 23, 2020
James ‘Jim’ Redepenning, born August 13, 1936 to Otto and Lena (Goetsch) Redepenning in Revillo, SD. Baptized on September 13, 1936. Died peacefully on November 23, 2020 at home in Scottsdale, AZ surrounded by family.
Jim grew up in western Minnesota on the family farm. After high school he worked on the railroad. He married Zona Larson on May 26, 1962. Jim moved the family to Duluth, MN in 1966 where he sold World Book Encyclopedias for a short time. A new job with Allstate Insurance took them to Brooklyn Park, MN in 1967. In 1974, the family moved to Greenfield, Minnesota, where Jim continued to work for Allstate Insurance Company in Fridley and enjoyed working his hobby farm with old-fashioned tractors and machinery. Jim was the life of the party and truly enjoyed and cherished his relationships with his many long-time friends from the surrounding area. In their empty nest years, they spent many weekends polka dancing. Zona passed away too early on February 15, 1995. Church was a large part of Jim’s life. He was an active member and elder at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. Jim married Jean Evans on 12/30/2001. They enjoyed wintering in Arizona, traveling together, a wonderful friendship until Jean’s death on May 1, 2016. After moving to Arizona, he was an active member at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, AZ. Jim loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren deeply and was very proud of each of them.
Survived by:
~Children: Andrea (Craig), daughter-in-law Shelly and Stacey (Lee)
~Grandchildren: Ryan (Paige) and Andrew (Jessica); Samantha (Ben), John, and Jordan; and Emily, Ethan, and Olivia.
~Great Grandchildren: Maisie and Harrison.
~Siblings: Violet (Dwight) Borgerson, Loretta (Orv) Folkerts, Don (Marion) Redepenning
~Sister and Brother-In-Laws: Jackie Redepenning and Butch Christensen.
Preceded in Death by:
~Parents: Otto and Lena Redepenning
~First wife: Zona Redepenning
~Son: Eric James Redepenning
~Second wife: Jean Evans
~Siblings: Dorothy (Harris) Grabow, Lillian (Leonard) Meister, Vernon (Marlys) Redepenning, Clifford Redepenning, Florence Christensen, Pete Redepenning.
~And many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be designated to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 302 NE 2nd Street, Buffalo, MN 55313, or Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, 9590 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
My heart goes out to the entire Redepenning family, especially to Andrea and Stacy and their families and to Eric’s family. I met Jim in 1974 when they were building a house next to ours in Greenfield. We couldn’t have had better neighbors or friends! What fun years those were! I haven’t had much contact with Jim in the last few years, but he was like one of those “forever” friends. I am grieving along with all of you! I send love and prayers and ask God to bless and comfort all of you during this time of great loss. It was an honor to me to have known Jim!
Sorry for your loss. We knew him as Penny (derived from his name duh) He would come into our cafe (Jan’s) every morning and order the same thing. We called it a “Penny special” and everyone knew what was needed.❤ Sending prayers for your family.
So sorry to hear about Jim passing. We have so many fond memories of the fun times we had with Jim and Zona, Dick and Marge and Lonnie and Jerry. Please know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers
Jim was a long time guest at the Country Inn & Suites and I was saddened to see his face in our local obituaries scrolling the paper. I remember him fondly as one of my first guests 15 years ago.
So sorry yo read about your Dad,Andrea.
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. Zona and I were roommates back in the day. I was from Appleton so asked her to come home with me one weekend. That’s when she met Jim. So much fun. Loved them both. I was a bridesmaid and my mom poured coffee at the wedding reception. Memories come flooding back. Tom and I extend our deepest sympathies to all the family.