James (Jim) Frederick Holmes, 74, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Highland House Nursing & Rehab facility in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Jim was born September 16, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, to Mildred (Millie) McCullough. He graduated from Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, in 1966.
Jim was adopted by Emery Holmes and then joined the Army in 1968. He served 28 months in Vietnam as a Medic with the combat engineers, a signal unit and the 101st Airborne Rangers. During this time, he received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Medic badges.
Jim married Julie Ann Kistler, whom he met on a blind date, on August 11, 1973.
Jim then went to Surgical Tech school to become an Operating Room Technician. In October 1977, Jim went on active duty to go to PN school at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. In 1978, they welcomed son Jason while still living in Georgia.
Over the years, he worked in various hospitals in Texas and MN. In 1991 he began working as an Orthopedic assistant in Little Falls, MN, and also in Willmar, MN.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Julie; son Jason (Jennifer); daughter Tina (Bill) Walsh; grand-daughters Krysti, Melissa, Jamison and Lydia Holmes and Morgan Walsh; great-grandsons Sam, Aiden and Evan; sister-in-law Ellen Campbell.
Jim was a lifetime member of the American Legion, DAV and VFW. He was also a member of the Masons, Scottish Rite and Shriners.
Jim loved being a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He spent many hours playing with and babysitting his granddaughters.
There will be a Celebration of Jim’s life at W. J. Ward Memorial Cemetery at 1 p.m. on June 8, 2023. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the VFW and DAV
