Deacon James L. Thornton Jr.

Deacon James L. Thornton, age 95, of Shakopee, MN passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN.
With hearts of gratitude for a life richly lived, we bid farewell to James Leo Thornton Jr. of Shakopee, MN. A beacon of faith and love, who passed away peacefully at the age of 95. Raised an only child to the son of James and Mary (Farrell) Thornton, Sr., his father a railroad conductor, Jim's journey of riding trains to Minnesota summers is where he built lifelong bonds with cousins, aunts and uncles – a tradition that forged his deep connections to family.
A man of service in every sense, in 1952 Jim served honorably in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD in education. He taught chemistry at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, retiring in 1989. Yet his greatest mission began on August 31, 1959, when he married his beloved Janice Lapka. They shared 62 years of marriage, raising five children together. During this time, Jim faithfully served as a Deacon at St. Mary's Catholic church.
Jim's legacy lives on survived by daughters and son, Mary Kraft, Ann (Erik) Kleiner, Susan (Dennis) Ball, Catherine (Stephen) Schmid, and Michael (Trina) Thornton; 14 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents, James and Mary Thornton, wife, Janice Thornton, and grandson, Evan Thornton.
Jim was a man who loved his family, friends and parishioners deeply. He prayed for us often and we now release him into God's embrace. He will be dearly missed by all.
Visitation Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 9:30 – 11 AM, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM, all at the Church of St. Mary, 535 Lewis Street South, Shakopee, MN.
In Deacon Jim's memory, memorials are preferred to Alpha Women's Center, PO Box 435, Savage MN 55378: https://alphawomenscentermn.com