James “Jim” Josephs, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was called home to be with our Lord the evening of Dec. 12th at the St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota. He was surrounded by family.
Jim was born at the family farmhouse on Feb. 20th, 1936, in Douglas County, Minnesota. He graduated from Kensington High School in 1954 and served three years in the United States Army, stationed in Germany. In 1960, Jim graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis with a degree in English.
Jim met his wife Kay nee Theisen in 1960 and proposed a week later. Kay, at the young age of 19, wanted to travel to California and wasn’t ready to marry. Jim knew he wanted to be with her and offered to take her there if she would agree to marry him. They traveled to California and soon returned to be closer to family. Jim and Kay were happily married among friends and family on Dec. 17th, 1960. During the wedding, Kay thought it would be wonderful if it snowed while they were walking out of the church. When the couple ventured out the front doors of the church, it was softly snowing.
In 1963, Jim began what would be a successful career in the optical industry at Bausch & Lomb. He founded EPIC Labs with a partner in 1989, which focused on creating specialty lenses that other labs could not. In 2004, Jim retired and traveled domestically and internationally with his wife. They spent their winters in Rockport, Texas, and the rest of the year with family in Minnesota.
Jim was incredibly intelligent. He had a literary mind and an aptitude for mathematics. These traits lent well to his career in the optical industry, and his assistance of his family members in their writing pursuits.
A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Jim had a smile that could light up a room. His sons’ cherished hunting and fishing with him. Jim was very generous and made sure that friends never went home empty-handed. He was an avid cribbage player who was seldom-defeated and “quietly” humble.
Spending time with family and joking and laughing were the most important things to Jim. He would always sing songs with his guitar around the campfire, and sung often at other family gatherings. His song choices were both silly and sentimental. The most wonderful time of the year for Jim was the hunting and fishing seasons. In the warmer weather, he enjoyed playing golf with his wife and friends.
Jim Josephs is preceded in death by his parents and siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Kay, siblings Mike (Pat), Dave, and Evie, as well as sons Jay (Lorree) and Tony (Dana), grandchildren Josh (Corey), April (Scott), Allie Mae, and Aimee, and great-grandchildren Sawyer, Jasper, and Marlee.
A Funeral Service for James will be held Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Atonement Lutheran Church, 1144 29th Ave N, Saint Cloud, MN 56303.
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