James ‘Jim’ LeRoy Gander

November 20, 1943 – May 20, 2022
James (Jim) LeRoy Gander, 78 of Kellogg, passed away unexpectedly in a car accident on Friday, May 20. He was born November 20, 1943 to Herman and Mabel (Johnson) Gander. He attended Wabasha schools and graduated in 1961. He met the love of his life, Shirley Kranz, at the Watopa Sportsman Club in 1962, they were married at the Weaver Methodist Church on August 7, 1965. Jim and Shirley made their home on the family farm in Cooks Valley until 1988 when they moved to Kellogg.
After farming, he started working as a DHIA milk tester. In 1989 he started working for Plainview Milk Products as a field service technician. After retiring from Plainview Milk Products in 2011, he worked for Dean and Theresa Stromness mowing lawns for eight years. For the past five years, he worked at Bennett’s Food Center.
Jim loved his family and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was truly interested in their lives and supported their hobbies. He attended sporting events, checked in on the fishing report, listened to travel adventures as well as updates about work and college. He also dearly loved his siblings and met them often for breakfast on Saturday mornings.
He loved camping, fishing, traveling, bird watching, playing cards and gardening. He was an avid Twins and Vikings fan. All of these activities were done with family and friends that he loved.
Jim was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church in Kellogg and was actively involved with the church, serving on many committees. He was also involved in the community including the Kellogg City Council, DHIA Board of Wabasha County, Kellogg City Planning Commission, treasurer of the Greenfield Cemetery Board, Greenwood Prairie Classic Iron Club and was a charter member of the Kellogg Lion’s Club.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Shirley (Kranz) Gander; three daughters, Brenda (Eric) Bennett of Plainview; Bev Sullivan of Winona; Sandy (Brian) Hein of Zumbro Falls, and one son, Tim Gander of Wabasha; nine grandchildren, Brittany, Josh, Jake, Nena, Colton, Mason, Garrett, Claire, and Adrian; three great-grandchildren, Emily, Landon, and Ashton. Siblings and In-Laws, Doris Baker, Betty (Donnie) Gosse, Norma Bulver, Betty Peters, Ernie (Deb) Kranz all of Wabasha; Herman Jr. (Carol) Gander, Mary (Darrell) Gusa, Elaine (Harlan) Dillinger all of Kellogg, and Bonnie Prissel of Winona. Many nieces, nephews and special cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Herman, Sr. and Mabel Gander; mother and father-in-law Ernest and Emma Kranz; sisters Jean Lawler and Helen Volkman; sister-in-law Rita Peters, brother in-laws Lloyd Baker, Ed Lawler, Ben Volkman, Robert Prissel, Don Peters, and Bob Peters.
All services were held at the Kellogg United Methodist Church in Kellogg, MN. The funeral was held on Friday, May 27 at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Cheryl Nymann officiating. Visitation was held on Thursday, May 26. Burial will be held at a later date at the Greenfield Cemetery in Cooks Valley.