James Kujawa

James Phillip “Jim” Kujawa, 85, of Crookston, MN, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday evening, November 12, 2017 from Cancer, with his wife, Mary, and many of their children and grandchildren at his side.

Jim was born in St. Cloud, MN on April 24, 1932, one of 11 children of the union of Vincent and Mary (Gapinski) Kujawa. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith, attended St. Cloud’s St. John Cantius Catholic School, and graduated from St. Cloud Tech with the Class of 1950. Jim entered the U.S. Army on June 12, 1953 and served with the 8th Division during the Korean War. For his service to his country he was awarded the National Defense, United Nations, and Korean Service Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Following his honorable discharge on May 12, 1955 he returned home, and on June 11, 1955 was united in marriage to Mary Glieden at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud.  The couple lived in St. Cloud for a year before coming to Crookston to make their home. Their marriage was blessed by the births of 9 children who they raised in a very loving home. Jim was first employed at Northern Plumbing until 1967 when he started his own business, known as Kujawa Plumbing. In 1973 he began working for the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in the Plant Services Department, retiring from there in 1996.

Jim will be very lovingly remembered and sadly missed by Mary, his beloved wife of 62 years; their 9 children and spouses: James “Beau” and Laura Kujawa of Park Rapids, MN; Mike and Bonnie Kujawa of East Grand Forks, MN; Mona and Tim Korsmoe of Grand Forks, ND; Jaci and Glen Wilder of Crookston, MN; Paul and Sarah Kujawa of Detroit Lakes, MN; Tim and Kara Kujawa of East Grand Forks; Julie and Jeff Bigger of Alexandria, MN; Lee “Harv” Kujawa of Crookston; and Michelle Kujawa and Shane Johnson of Alexandria; 26 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Retta Venables of Orlando, FL ; sister-in-Marian Glieden Sakry and her husband, Jack of Minneapolis, MN; brother-in-law, Doug Larson of Roseville, MN; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 grandchildren; and 9 siblings. May God richly bless the memory of Jim Kujawa.

The Mass of Christian Burial for James Phillip Kujawa will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 17, 2017, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston, MN with The Rev. Bryan Kujawa, presiding. Visitation will be at the Cathedral on Thursday from 5-7:00pm, with a 7:00pm prayer service, and for one hour prior to the Funeral Mass on Friday. Inurnment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Crookston. Military Honors will be provided by the Crookston Veterans Council and the Moorhead, MN National Guard Honors Unit.

Memorials may be given in Jim’s name to the Grand Forks Altru Cancer Center or Altru’s Hospice or the Altru’s Home Care.

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