James D. Powell (“Jim”), age 90 of Minneapolis, MN passed away peacefully on Friday,
January 28, 2022 with family by his side at the Minnesota Masonic Home in Bloomington, MN.
We have lost one of the good ones. Kind, thoughtful, loving, generous, caring, adventurous,
and mischievous are just some ways to describe him.
Jim graduated from West High School and shortly after joined the Army and served in the
Korean War while stationed in Paris, France. After his service he started his career at
Northwestern Bell and retired from US West phone company.
His family was everything to him and he gave us a life filled with love and adventures. We took
many family vacations camping all throughout the western states as well as visiting family in
other states. Later on he enjoyed some fun bus trips with Jean and Deny and Fleury.
He was quite the handyman and could fix or figure out just about any problem around the
house or with your car. He was always the first to offer to help in any way that he could.
He loved visiting with family and friends, sharing stories, and kept us laughing with his funny
little witty one-liner zingers. He had many lifelong friends and we were always amazed that no
matter where we went he would run into someone he knew. Even if we were several hundred
miles from home. He also knew every good restaurant in the 5 state area. He loved a great
meal and every meal was great.
We had many back yard parties where he grilled under the Oak Tree that was planted when he
was born. He was the keeper of family heirlooms and history as was his mother before him.
And did an excellent job of photographing our life and the memories that went with. He grew
up in the house his mother had purchased before she was married. We were all raised there
also. That house was in our family for 105 years. The neighbors were also our family.
Birthdays, Anniversaries, and the Holidays were always a big deal and he always made these
family gatherings special. He was all about the little things in life and the difference they could
make.
We need to give a special thank you to the amazing and caring staff at the Minnesota Masonic
Home. They took him into their care with respect and dedication to his well being. They
became second family and are a real community of kind and compassionate, courageous and
energetic people. Parkinson’s just ravages your body. It is very hard when you can no longer
care for your loved one at home and need to trust others. Jim survived Covid and the isolation.
So to Nicole, Robin, Henry, Jackie, Tiane, Sam B, Sam O, Julius, Anita, Agnes, Mary, Todd,
Kjersten, Christine, Bonnie, Candace, and so many others, we simply cannot express how
much it means to us the way you cared for him. And to Sam-B his special buddy, and Kjersten
his special girlfriend and Nicole (Lynn’s friend - inside joke) we will be forever grateful to the joy
you brought to his life.
He is going to be so greatly missed. He always ended visits or phone calls with “I love you too,
and we will talk at cha later”.
He was preceded in death by his parents Margaret (Maggie McEachran) and John “Jack”
Powell, his infant brother John William Powell Jr, the love of his life for 62 years Jean (Karolus)
Powell, his daughter Diane Powell just 3 weeks prior, his infant granddaughter Courtney
Powell, and many other close and special family members and friends.
Jim is survived by his remaining 3 children: Lynn (John) LaBahn of Chaska MN, Steve (Chris
Nowlan) Powell of Hastings MN, Mark Powell of Burnsville MN, and Diane’s partner Mark
Hannah of Burnsville MN. Also his 4 grandchildren: Joshua (Susan Schmittfranz) Powell of
Crystal MN, Ashley Powell-Morris of Boston MA, Caleb Powell of Hastings MN, and Jared
Powell of Cottage Grove MN. And 5 great-grandchildren: Makenna Powell, Iviana (Ivy) Morris,
Lucia (Lu) Morris, Duncan and Hunter Powell. Sister-in-law Carole Hoffman of Gresham WI,
and many loved nieces and nephews throughout MN and WI.
Visitation will be held at noon on Friday, February 18, 2022, with a funeral mass to follow at
1pm at Incarnation Catholic Church at 3817 Pleasant Ave So in Minneapolis 55409.
Internment will take place at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.