Pearl Mae Wallem James, 94
Published 9:57 am Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Pearl Mae Wallem James, 94, formerly of Austin, Minnesota, died Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Bethany Manor Memory Care in Story City, Iowa.
Pearl Mae Wallem James, 94
Pearl was born on June 11, 1921, near Hollandale, Minnesota, in Freeborn County to Andrew A. and Johanna K. (Hotopp) Wallem. Pearl lived with her two brothers and three sisters near Waltham and Sargeant, Minnesota, until 1935. She then moved to Austin, Minnesota, and worked as a nanny. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in 1936.
Pearl married Harold Ralph James on Aug. 31, 1941, in Canton, South Dakota. She worked at Red Owl and Piggly Wiggly grocery stores during the 1940s and 1950s. A daughter was born to Pearl and Harold in 1951, Kathleen Ann James.
After living in Austin for many years, Pearl and Harold moved to a small farm south of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, in 1962.
Pearl was known for her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. She also worked at Super Valu in Blooming Prairie. She was a lover of good music, dancing, sewing and playing cards.
She was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin since 1954.
She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Johanna; husband Harold; brothers, Herbert and Harry; sisters, Hazel, Ann and Gladys and beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pearl is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Fred Hagaman of Ames, Iowa; three grandchildren, Christopher (Laura) Goodwin of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Benjamin (Heather) Goodwin of Medford, Minnesota, and Laura (Jeremias) Sauceda of Ames, Iowa; one step-grandchild, Amy Taylor of Boone, Iowa; five great-grandchildren, Seth, Luke and Annika Sauceda and Zoe and Emilia Goodwin; two step-great-grandchildren, Jon and Brooklyn Taylor.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 18, 2016, at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Peter Solie officiating. Interment will be at Oakland Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday and again on Monday for one hour before the service.