James Frank Hruska

James Frank Hruska, age 86, of Rapidan and owner of the Rapidan Dam Store, died Monday, December 15, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Friday, December 19 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Rapidan. In honor of Jim, everyone is welcome to wear Dam Store clothing to the visitation and service.

James was born on October 16, 1939 in Faribault, MN to Frank Hruska and Genevieve Kelsey. Jim fished on the Blue Earth River growing up and rode his bike to the Rapidan Dam. He grew up in South Bend Township and graduated from Mankato High in 1958. Jim was drafted in the United States Army and was stationed in Sylvester, GA. He was a military police officer on a missile site. After the military he moved to Iowa and met Linda Leonhardt. They were married on June 1, 1968. He worked for Gus Glacier Meats and Kautzkey Sporting Goods in Iowa. They moved to Mankato and bought the Dam Store in 1972 and continued to run it for the next 53 years. Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing in Minnesota, Iowa, and Georgia. He made several hunting trips every year until the last two years of his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family and loved getting to the restaurant to visit with his customers.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Jenny (Marc) Barnes; son, David Hruska; sister, Kathy Devens; and nieces and nephews, Mike Devens, Shannon (Grady) Whittet, Lisa Leonhardt, Mandy Greene, Kari (Gabe) Calderon, and KC (Lisa) Rankin. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Linda; nieces, Becky Rankin and Georgeann Rankin; brother-in-law, Larry (Sue) Leonhardt; sister-in-law, Betty (Red) Rankin; and many other close family and friends.