James Jacob Mack

James Jacob (Jim) Mack March 29th, 1923 – January 10th, 2018      James Jacob (Jim) Mack, 94, a lifetime Ponsford resident, died peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 10th, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Center in Battle Lake, MN.    Jim was born on March 29th, 1923, the son of Henry & Mary (Nunn) Mack in Ponsford, MN. Jim attended Linnell Country School and went on to graduate from Park Rapids High School in the class of 1941.    Jim married Irene Halvorson on Nov. 17th, 1943 at St. Theodores Catholic Parsonage in Ponsford. Jim & Irene bought a farm near Ponsford where they lived for 70+ years. They worked hard to provide a loving home for the six children they were blessed with. Besides working on the farm he loved, Jim worked for the Becker County Highway Department for 17 years. He drove school bus for many years and also was a rural sub postal mail driver. Jim & Irene loved to dance, play cards and visit with family and friends. If you knew Jim, you knew that he always had a story to tell or a song to sing. Jim’s passions were farming, deer hunting, and watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren participate in sports and other activities. He was their biggest fan. He taught us to work hard, laugh often, and love much.    Jim is survived by his six children: Con (Joyce) Mack of New York Mills, Sandy (Ken) Blauert of Detroit Lakes, Josie (Dan) Niemi of Snellman, Larry (Kay) Mack of Bemidji, Mary (Mark) Johnson of Two Inlets and Henry (Jennifer) Mack of Park Rapids; 14 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren; one caring sister, Mildred Bloomquist of Bemidji; two sister-in-law’s: Shirley Sandberg and Arlene Halvorson as well as numerous nieces and nephews.    Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Irene (2016), his parents Henry and Mary (Nunn) Mack, three brothers (Joe, Tom and Sam) and two sisters (Arlene and Esther) and several sister and brother in laws.    Visitation will be from 5-8 PM Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home, Park Rapids, MN with a prayer service at 7 PM and will continue beginning one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Funeral service will be held 11 AM, Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.