Obituary of James Benson Howe

James Benson Howe, 82, of Duluth, died at home Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, encircled by the love of his family. A man beloved by many and respected by all who knew him, Jim was born in Duluth, on May 29, 1933, to George and Mabel Howe. Jim served overseas in the army during the Korean Conflict and returned to Duluth to find a job driving truck for Arrowhead Electric. Seeing Jim's potential, the owner of Arrowhead encouraged him to become an electrician. Always intrigued by a challenge, Jim started an apprenticeship program working to earn a Class A journeyman license and later a Class A master electrician license. With those goals met, Jim eventually bought the company. Though he thrived on the demands of designing and building complex industrial power systems, Jim insisted the best job he had was as Arrowhead's truck driver. Jim married Carol Ann Edblad in 1957 and they divorced in 1984. In 1986 he married Mary Linda Sather, embracing her children as his own. They had 29 cherished years together before his passing. Jim was a man who could fix anything. In every circle of friends he was known as the "go to" guy. He learned early from his dad how to take apart and reassemble anything with moving parts. By the time he was 10, Jim had developed a passion for planes and flying. He built and flew model planes, eventually earned a license to fly general aviation aircraft and in later years returned to model building. Some of his most joyful hours were spent with his flying buddies of the Duluth-Superior Radio Controlled Model Aircraft Flying Club. When Jim moved from the Boulevard to Park Point with his family, he added boats to his interests, starting with a small skiff salvaged from the bay and ending with a power cruiser in which he sailed Lake Superior. Jim was a modern day Renaissance man whose varied interests and knowledge led a favorite younger cousin to declare, "He wasn't just smart at fixing things; he was smart at everything." Jim always said that in business and in life the "bottom line is people." He was a man of integrity, generous with everything he had, smart, but more importantly, full of wisdom. He was a man who spoke volumes with his actions. He was an encourager and champion of his family. He treasured his friends and believed "a stranger is only a friend you haven't met." He was proud to point out that he had had daily coffee with some of his friends for almost 60 years. From midlife on he had many health challenges, but most would never have known because of his eternal optimism and his Viking determination. We are grateful to Dr. Mark Goellner and Dr. Robert Leff, Jim's longtime physicians who managed his health care with skill and compassion. He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Alice Mae and beloved extended family members. Grieving his passing are his wife, Mary Linda Sather; son Ron S. Waterhouse (Karri) and granddaughters, April, Brittanie and Shea Leigh, Lake Nebagamon, Wis.; daughter Wendi Umali (Joel) and granddaughter Abbey, Redlands, Calif.; chosen family, Gene Schmidt, Shelley Maas and children Taylor, Max and Zoe, Proctor, Minn.; aunt, Marjorie Kershaw, Littleton, Colo.; favorite cousins Bob Schroeder and Jon Eggleston and many other relatives who were all his favorites. CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 in the Duluth Chapel of the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Avenue with a visitation starting at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association of Duluth; the Muscular Dystrophy Association; Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, Duluth; Union Gospel Mission, Duluth or the family.