James Reese

James Allen Reese was born in Pipestone, Minnesota to Victor and Ole Reese on February 2, 1944 during a snow storm, rushed to highway 30 to meet the ambulance on a cutter.  Jim was baptized and confirmed at St.  John’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock, Minnesota.  Jim grew up on the family farm northeast of Woodstock, Minnesota helping raise a variety of livestock, dairy cows, and grain.  Jim finished school at Lake Wilson, Minnesota in 1962.  While attending school, Jim enjoyed playing football and coaching basketball to young children in the community.  Jim met the love of his life Marcy (Dressen) Reese at Lange’s Café in Pipestone, Minnesota and later married her at First Presbyterian Church in Pipestone, Minnesota on February 5, 1966.  Their marriage was blessed with three children, Todd, Scott, and Stacy.  Together they moved to a farmstead for one year northwest of Lake Wilson, Minnesota before moving into Lake Wilson.  Jim worked for two years for Barry Construction before returning to farming in 1972.

Jim was heavily involved in the Lake Wilson community, serving on the Lake Wilson Fire Department for 25 years and many of those years he served as fire chief.  Jim also served on the Community club and church council for 1 year.

In the mid-80s, Jim began his career as a salesman at Slayton International in Slayton, Minnesota.  Jim loved being able to talk to fellow farmers and continued there until 2000.  Jim was an avid fisherman and loved his trips to Blackduck, Minnesota and Canada.  Jim loved to hunt and the highlight of his hunting career was five trips to Colorado elk hunting with his friends.  After multiple trips Jim was able to shoot his first elk on the trip to Colorado with his son Scott.

In 1992, Jim and Marcy purchased property on Lake Shetek and in 2005 they built a home on that property.  Jim loved spending time toodling around the lake and socializing with many friends.  Jim was a man that was bigger than life, you could always know he was coming by the sight of a big western hat he always wore.  Jim will always be remembered by his friends at the Hadley liquor store.  

Jim is survived by his wife Marcy; two sons, Todd from Rochester, Minnesota and Scott from Eagan, Minnesota, and daughter Stacy (Chris)Swaggert from Long Lake, Minnesota; Three grandchildren, Chase (Megan) Reese from Lakeville, Minnesota, Logan and Paige Swaggert from Long Lake, Minnesota; Two Step-Grandchildren, CJ (Becky) Swaggert and Jessica (Cameron) Swaggert; Four Great Step-Grandchildren, Jaelyn, Jaeger, Maverick, and Daxton; Siblings, Barbara (Erling) Olson from Pine City, Minnesota, Mike (Cindy) Reese from Chandler, Minnesota, Patricia Fritz from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Richard (Tammy) Reese from Woodstock, Minnesota.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Lloyola (Ihlan) Reese; Father and Mother in-laws, Lloyd and Carol Dressen; Brother in-laws, Gene Kranick, Harlen Fritz, and Bob Dressen; and many aunts, uncles, and nieces.