James Berkner

There will be a Masonic Service scheduled for 7:00pm, Wednesday at the funeral home. James Daniel Berkner was born June 7, 1920 to parents Daniel and Harriet (James) Berkner in Sleepy Eye, MN. Jim grew up in Sleepy Eye wher he graduated from Sleepy Eye High School in 1938. He was drafted into the Army in 1942. On October 2, 1942 he was united in marriage to Carole Larson in New Ulm. The couple made their home in Sleepy Eye. Jim farmed south of Del Monte until his retirement in the early 1980's. The couple wintered in Mesa, AZ for some 30 years. They enjoyed travelling. Jim was also a rock hound, he enjoyed making jewelry from the semi-precious rocks he collected. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriners in Sleepy Eye and New Ulm, American Legion and was a past Boy Scout Leader. James D. Berkner, age 88, of Sleepy Eye died on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at the Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye. James Berkner was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Mary Kay Granath. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Carole Berkner of Sleepy Eye, sons and their wives James and Dorothy Berkner of Bastrop, TX, Brad and LeAnn Berkner of Sleepy Eye, 5 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and a brother-in-law John Granath of Danville, IN.