Obituary of James M. Martin

Martin, James "Jim" M. Age 87 of Maple Grove, passed away on August 29, 2019 from complications following a stroke.

Jim leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Patricia Ann (Dayton) Martin; his daughters Kathryn Hanson (Joel), Susan Dill (Adam), Mary Martin Wiens (Steve); his sister Carol Martin; seven grandchildren; and many family and friends. 

Jim was born May 11, 1932 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to J. Miles Martin and Dorothy (Hill) Martin. He spent his childhood on a farm along the Mississippi River in Anoka, MN. This is where he developed his love for horses and his value of hard work. 

Jim graduated from the University of Minnesota with an Agricultural Business Administration degree. After college, he spent some time trading agricultural commodities and working in the banking industry before becoming a certified real estate appraiser. He partnered for 35 years running a private appraisal firm. 

Jim leaves a legacy of a strong Christian faith, devotion to his family, a generous spirit, and an infectious laugh. He was a big man with a big heart, who loved fishing, hunting, and good old-fashioned Westerns. His greatest passions, however, included studying the Bible, trusting in God, and seeing to the welfare of his family. He loved reading books about theology and was always pressing them into the hands of the people he loved. He was an unfailingly loyal brother and friend, and always was quick to give those who needed help.  Jim was an active member of Grace Church for many years. His men’s Bible study group was a source of friendship, fellowship, and learning that Jim deeply cherished. 

The family would like to offer a special thank you to the staff and volunteers at NC Little Hospice in Edina for their loving care and support during the last week of Jim’s life. They provided a sacred and comforting space for Jim and his family to be together during his final days. 

Funeral services for Jim will be held in the Chapel at Grace Church Eden Prairie (9301 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55347) at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Jim will be laid to rest in a private family burial in the Champlin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jim’s name to Grace Church Missions (grace.church) or Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org/…).