James E. "Jim" Welhaven

James "Jim" Earl Welhaven passed away peacefully with his family by his side on August 8, 2024, of complications from Parkinson's disease with dementia. He was born to Earl and Margaret "Peg" Welhaven in Duluth on January 18, 1946. Six months later, they moved to Rochester where Earl accepted a position at Lourdes High School as their first band director. In 1954, Jim's parents founded Welhaven Music, and Jim began helping out in the music store in high school. He graduated from Lourdes High School in 1964 and then attended Saint Mary's College in Winona. In 1966, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1972. Then, Jim and his brother John began to run the family business with their brother Tom. In 1985, he married Rita and they had two children, Cole and Emily. Jim was an avid sports fan who never missed a game, match, or meet that his children participated in and watched nearly every Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings game. He also enjoyed spending quality time with his two grandchildren Michelle and George.
He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Peg Welhaven, in laws Harry and Phyllis Theiss, niece Margaret "Mimi" Roberts, great nephew Jake Roberts, great niece Makenzie Roberts, and nephew Ryan Lange. He is survived by his wife Rita, son Cole (Danielle) Welhaven, daughter Emily Welhaven, and grandchildren Michelle and George Welhaven. He is also survived by his siblings Mary (Patrick) Sullivan, John (Mary) Welhaven, and Tom (Vicki) Welhaven; sister-in -laws Charlotte (Craig) Hansen and Judy (Dan) Lange; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Mayo Hospice for their amazing care over the past year and a half.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:30 am, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (11 4th Ave SW Rochester, MN). Visitation will take place on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home (1105 12th St. SE Rochester, MN) and one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Lourdes High School Music Endowment Fund.