James Egan ‘Jim’ Abbott, 67, Wabasha

James E. Abbott, 67 years of Wabasha, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family.
James Egan “Jim” was born May 15, 1953, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to James D. and Anne (Flahavan) Abbott. Jim lived in Saint Paul until the age of seven when the family of nine moved to Wabasha, Minnesota. Jim graduated from Wabasha High School in 1971 and from the College of Saint Thomas in 1975 receiving a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. He later attended the University of Minnesota receiving a bachelor of science degree in mortuary science in 1978. Jim worked at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary in Austin, Minnesota and Adams Funeral Home in Adams from 1978 until 1989. In 1989, Jim purchased Abbott Funeral Home and Abbott Furniture from his father and moved to Wabasha. Jim sold the Furniture Store and then Abbott Funeral Home in 2018 and continued to work on a part-time basis with the new owner, Doug Penning, until June 2020.
Jim was an active and beloved member of the Wabasha community. He served on the Saint Felix Parish Council and ushered Saint Felix Mass on a weekly basis.  Jim was a board member at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and active in civic affairs. He served as President and later as charter member of the Wabasha Economic Development Authority, and as a member of the City Street Commission and Long Range Planning Committee. Jim was a board member of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and served on the First State Bank Board of Wabasha. He is a former president, member and Paul Harris Fellow of the Wabasha Rotary Club and was a member of the Kellogg Lions Club. He volunteered in the restoration of the Coffee Mill Golf Course. Away from work and community affairs, Jim enjoyed golfing, listening to music and attending concerts, and watching Minnesota sports teams. He was a member and the original commissioner of a long-standing Wabasha fantasy football league.
Jim and his family wish to express their profound gratitude for the support provided since Jim was diagnosed with brain cancer, in June 2020.
Jim is survived by his wife Claire; three children: Riley (Allison Forbes) Abbott, Washington, DC; Hallie (Daniel) Patterson, Lake City, MN; and Jillian Abbott, Rochester, MN; three grandchildren: Henry, Ivy, and Magnus; siblings: Joe and Rita Abbott, Wabasha, MN; Bob and Kathy Abbott, Baton Rouge, LA; Cia and Jack Bullemer, St. Paul, MN; Matt and Mary Abbott, St. Paul, MN; Kass Abbott Bailey, Wabasha, MN; and Tom and Elizabeth Abbott, Petersburg, AK.
A private family funeral Mass will be at Saint Felix Catholic Church, Wabasha, MN with Reverend Father Glenn Frerichs officiating and attended by Deacon John Hust. Interment will be at Saint Felix Cemetery, Wabasha, MN. Casket bearers will be Jim’s sisters and brothers. Please visit www.abbottfh.com beginning 8AM Wednesday, November 25, 2020, for information about remotely attending the funeral Mass.
There will be a public viewing from 10AM until 6PM Tuesday, November 24 at the Abbott Funeral Home, Wabasha. Protective face masks are required to enter the funeral home and visitors are asked to maintain six feet of physical distance from one another. The family will not be present at the viewing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to: Saint Elizabeth’s Community Development Foundation, 1200 Grant Blvd W, Wabasha, MN 55981 or Wabasha Public Library, 168 Alleghany Ave., Wabasha, MN 55981.
Services entrusted to Abbott Funeral Home & Crematory, Wabasha, MN.  Words of sympathy or remembrance may be left at www.abbottfh.com