James Michael Bleich

       Jim was born February 4th, 1940, in Mason City, Iowa to Magdalen (Mag) and John Bleich. In 1956 Jim’s father passed away of cancer. He and his mother lived in Britt, while Johnette, Jim’s sister was in college. Jim’s mother asked him to move to Wesley where she was a schoolteacher, but Jim wanted to finish school in Britt. The following year at Hobo Day in Britt, Jim’s cousin, Margaret Bleich, introduced him to Carol (Martin) Bleich, the love of his life. That day Jim went home and told his mother “Let’s move to Wesley.” 

     Once Jim moved to Wesley, he tried timing driving past Carol’s house at just the right time so he could casually pick her up along the way to school. Carol had the same exact idea. She would watch for Jim’s car and walk outside to meet him by chance. Jim and Carol’s first date was prom at surf ballroom. November 19th, 1960, they were married at the Catholic Church in Wesley.

     Jim and Carol lived in Algona, IA, Spencer IA, Kenneth, MN then back to Spencer, IA, where they have lived ever since. Jim worked as an orderly at the Spencer Hospital, sold Kirby vacuums, owned Jim’s Auto Trim, worked for Graham Tire, Schmidt/Miller Beer company and finally Eaton’s where he retired. 

     Jim enjoyed vacations with his family when the kids were growing up and with Carol and him after he and Carol had retired. They visited all 50 states including a Hawaiian wedding of their grandnephew and an emergency hernia surgery at Niagara Falls which required daughter Jae Ella to fly out and drive them back to Iowa. Jim and Carol also went to Luxemburg, Europe where they and Jim’s sister, Johnette and his nephew Father Mike Kellogg met distant relatives. 

 James (Jim) Michael Bleich passed away on January 24, 2024 at Longhouse Residence in Spencer at the age of 83.

     Jim and Carol were blessed with 5 married children and 5 grandchildren. John (Melanie) Bleich (Kaitlin & Cassidy), the late Jo Ann (Jim) Hardin (Michael, Tyler & Catelin), Jae Ella (Bill) Godden, Jammie (Terry) Wackerbarth (Brooklyn), and Judy (Phil) King (Austin & Noah).

      Loved ones who preceded Jim: parents, John (Magdalen) Bleich, daughter, Jo Ann Hardin, sisters: Kathryn Elise Bleich and Johnette (Dick) Kellogg, and grandparents, Dr. Pierre (Mary) Sartor, and Albert (Kathryn) Bleich.