James “Big Jim” Edmund McDonough, 56, passed away on April 24, 2026, surrounded by the family that loved him most.

To say Jim was a man of big stature would be an understatement. While his physical presence could fill any room, it was his personality and booming laugh that truly took up the space. To know Jim (Jimmy, to those most dear), was to love him. And to know him meant you also understood his eyebrows were the only voice he ever needed; they told you exactly what he was thinking before he ever had to say a word.

Jim was a man of diverse passions and simple pleasures. Whether he was out on the water fishing, firing up the grill for a BBQ or seafood boil, or curating a musical playlist that spanned classic country to gangster rap to the sappiest of romantic 90s love songs, he lived with a heart that embraced it all. He loved camping with his family, took immense pride in his beautiful, lush green lawn, and was rightfully proud of his camper, his boat, and his truck. Each one was a symbol of the memories he sought to make with family and friends. When he finally sat down to relax, it was usually to play Airport City or watch Beachfront Bargain Hunt, Storage Wars, or Duck Dynasty. He adopted and modeled Phil Robertson’s tagline as his own: "Happy! Happy! Happy!"

For over 30 years, Jim served as an apartment maintenance technician. He was extremely handy and could fix just about anything. If he didn’t know how, he’d "MacGyver it,” using a mix of duct tape, stubbornness, and pure ingenuity until it was “fixed.” In his most recent chapter, he brought that same spirit of repair to his own life, working as a cook, caretaker and group leader at a recovery center. He was a man who understood the deep value of hard work: not just in maintaining the world around him, but in the brave, daily work of repairing his own soul and helping others repair theirs.

Above all else, Jim was a father who loved his three daughters, Olivia, Avery, and Evelyn, with a fierce, unshakable intensity. To his very last day, he fought to be the best man and the best father he could be. His commitment to his girls was the anchor of his life. Jim lived by a few simple, powerful truths: “McDonough Strong,” “Family is Family, Good or Bad,” “Our Front Door.”

Jim is preceded in death by his father, James Edmund McDonough; his mother, Dorothy Marie Antoinette (Gaglierde) McDonough Halligan; his uncle, Louis “Bud” Theodore Gaglierde; his aunt, Kathleen Marie (Snyder) Gaglierde; his nephew, Brandon James McDonough; and his father-in-law, Kenneth John Alman, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Jill; his three daughters, Olivia (21), Avery (19), and Evelyn (15); his sister, Jennine; his nephew, Tommy; his niece, Taylor and her children, great-nephew, Mason, and great-niece, Alaia; his niece, Julia; and many cherished family members and friends.

To honor the fullness of Jim’s journey and the legacy he leaves in his daughters, a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Duelm Lion’s Park (Duelm Rd NE, Foley, MN 56329). In the spirit of Jim’s favorite afternoons, surrounded by people and good stories, please come prepared to share a memory of his big life and the impact he left behind.