James Bounds

James Glenn Bounds was born at home in Wing River Township on July 27, 1939 to Vera (Peterson) and Elmer Bounds.

In Oct. 1957 Jim left high school to join the United States Navy. While home on leave in October 1960 Jim met Laura (Nolte) when he asked her to please get off the hood of his car. On February 25, 1961 they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in North Germany Township.

While stationed in San Diego, CA in February 1962, their first daughter Leah was born and two years later in 1964 son Matthew was born. Jim was on LCU boats from 1961-1966 based out of Coronado, CA and deployed to Japan, Okinawa, and Vietnam. While stationed in Great Lakes, IL as an instructor after Vietnam, their third child Beth was born in 1969. The family moved to Holy Loch, Scotland in early 1970 and lived there for three years. Lifelong Scottish family friends, Jimmy and Sadie Nugent were a rich part of the family’s life in those years, coming to the US to visit multiple times. The family transferred to Norfolk, VA in late 1973 for a year and a half and then Jim went on recruiting duty for three years in Lafayette, IN. Jim and the family’s last duty station was Gaeta, Italy. Jim retired and was piped off the USS Albany in September 1979 after 22 years of service, as Master Chief Bounds.

After the Navy, Jim was hired by General Electric and worked in power plants in MN, ND, SD, WI and IA as a turbine maintenance rep and project manager, also going to Wisconsin, California and Maine on longer projects before retiring in the summer of 1999.

Jim and Laura settled back in Wadena, MN to enjoy their children and grandchildren, their church, and the Friday Night Supper Group. Through the years they enjoyed time spent time with Elmer and Vera and other elderly aunts and uncles. Jim enjoyed many days of fishing with anyone who could go along, especially enjoying fishing with his mother. He loved taking care of his beautiful lawns, being a master griller to feed many, wood-working projects creating many treasured pieces of oak furniture as gifts, and seeing his grandchildren’s activities, accomplishments and two marriages.

Jim and Laura have so many friends made in the Navy, through General Electric and here in the Wadena area. They had the chance to reconnect with so many after retirement. They spent Jim’s last two winters in Alamo, TX making many new friends and enjoying the warm winter weather. He was an active member of Bethany Free Lutheran Church, he was a board member and supporter of Sonrise Christian School, and a member of the Wadena VFW.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Laura’s parents Werner and Rose (Gebhard) Nolte, sister-in-laws Nancy (Doug) Bounds, JoAnne (Paul) Nolte, and Ruth (Merlyn) Johnson, and brother-in-law Bill (Nyla) Nolte.

Jim is survived by his wife Laura of 57 years, 9 months, their three children and seven grandchildren; Leah (Tracy) Smart and daughters Sarah (Alex) Haubert and MacKenzie of Columbus, OH; Matt of Elk River, MN and children Justin, James and Elizabeth; and Beth (Mike) Cottrell  of Wadena, MN and sons Brandon (Abby) and Clayton; his beloved best dog Goldie; sister Joyce (Harlan) Thomson of Verndale, MN; brothers: Doug Bounds of Jamestown, ND and Dean (Julie) Bounds of Elon, NC; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Jim passed away at home with his family by his side after battling cancer.

All services to be held at Karvonen Funeral Home of Wadena with Pastor Curt Emerson officiating. Hymns will be sung by the congregation, accompanied by Jane Emerson. Pallbearers are grandsons: Brandon Cottrell, Clayton Cottrell, James Bounds, Justin Roberts and nephews: Steve Thomson and David Dunning. Honorary pallbearers were Roger Anderson, Myron Winkleman, Gordon Moench, Dennis Tiede, Larry Uselman and Dr. John Pate. Military honors will be provided by Elmer Goche VFW Post 3922 of Wadena, MN. Jim will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery, Verndale, MN.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Bounds, please visit our floral store.