Fair / 52° F
James “Jim” Lorin Demo, 77, of Barrett
Published 10:26am Thursday, December 29, 2011 Updated 12:27pm Thursday, December 29, 2011James Demo, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at the Fargo Veteran’s Hospital.
He was born on March 8, 1934, in Benson, the son of James and Alice (Buroker) Demo, the sixth of 10 children. He attended rural country school until the eighth grade when he left to help with the farming responsibilities.
During World War II the family moved to Minneapolis and returned to Benson in 1946. Jim completed the eighth grade and worked various jobs in farming and construction until 1950, when his brother, Bill was killed while serving his country in Korea.
Jim joined the U.S. Army Jan. 5, 1953, and was deployed to Korea. He earned the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal before being honorably discharged in May of 1956.
On Sept. 27, 1954, during leave from the U.S. Army, Jim came home and married the love of his life, Patricia Cudrio of Morris. They’ve been blessed with five children, 18 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Jim moved his family to Minneapolis and worked in the sheet metal industry.
In 1965, they moved to California away from the Minnesota weather. He was very skilled in sheet metal and easily landed a job. They returned to the Stevens County area after his father’s death in 1971.
Jim and Pat moved to the Twin cities in 1977, until his retirement in 1989. They resided in Barrett until his death.
His greatest joys in life were serving as his son’s Little League Manager. He was an avid hunter and fisherman while spending many hours on the local lakes.
Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, Dewayne, Merlin and William; and three grandchildren, Jason, Elizabeth and Jacob.
Survivors include his loving wife, Patricia of Barrett; five children, Lori Riley of Graceville, Lynn (Paul) Koenen of Clara City, Jeanie (Curt) Weinreis of North Branch, Jeff of Hoffman and Jackie of Fergus Falls; adopted by heart daughters, Barb (Clyde) Laurent and Beth (Bruce) Anderson; mother-in-law, June Cudrio of Barrett; six siblings, Dorothy (Glenn) Thedin, Rosemary St George, Roger (OraLee) Demo, Chuck Demo, Cheryl (Loren) and Dale Demo; 18 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and a host of friends.
Visitation: Luncheon and Celebration of Life two hours prior to services at the church
Service: 7 p.m. Friday, at First Lutheran Church, Morris
Clergy: Rev. Matthew Rose
Funeral Home: Faith and Hope Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences may be sent online at faithhopefh.com
