James D. Sherer, 92
Clitherall, Minn.
June 13, 1922 – Aug. 3, 2014
James “Jim” Delbert Sherer, Clitherall, Minn, formerly of Sartell, died peacefully on Aug. 3, 2014 after a long, exciting, passionate and productive life. His funeral was held Aug. 12 at VFW Post #6992 in Sauk Rapids. Burial was in Oakhill Cemetery, Sartell. Arrangements were made by Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud.
Sherer was born June 13, 1922 in Sartell to James and Carrie (Rassmusson) Sherer. He had the good fortune to be blessed with sisters and a brother in a warm and loving family. He attended grade school in Sartell. His youth was spent on the Mississippi River where he swam and fished. The fishing, along with hunting, came in handy to provide food after his father had a stroke when he was only 13. Sherer hunted with a 4.10 shotgun his older sisters gave to him when he was 14. That gun is still in the family. He graduated from St. Cloud Tech High School in 1940.
Sherer married Loretta Poepping on Feb. 12, 1942 in Sauk Rapids. He built his first home in Sartell out of a used auto garage. He expanded this many times as his family grew or just out of the need to build. Loretta kept the broom handy to clean up the sawdust. They had four daughters: Barbara, Pam, Linda and Jami. Sherer kept them busy and out of trouble by occupying them in his many “projects.” Don’t even ask them about the bricks.
Sherer was not one to settle for just one occupation. He worked at the local paper mill, in iron foundries, on the production line during the World War II and on the railroad. He owned two businesses. Sartell Aluminum Foundry and Heartland Glass Co. His nephews, Al and Mal Patton, worked with him in the foundry and spent many vacations with him fishing in Canada. He was on the Sartell City Council as well as the Sartell School Board. He had several patents, most notably was a car rooftop boat carrier.
Sherer enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing in Canada, playing poker with his friends at Nip’s and philosophical conversations with friends who he’d known all of his life. A conversation with him always involved a pencil and paper drawing to show what he meant or was trying to achieve.
In 1993, the couple left their home in Sartell to move to Lake Crystal, outside of Pelican Rapids. Here he continued to expand his home to more than double the size, built two other vacation homes that he sold. While living in this area, the couple made many new friends and settled into a partial retirement. Sherer was not one to just retire…too many things to do and make. After 15 years at Lake Crystal, the couple moved to Clitherall to accept the challenge of another house that needed them.
Survivors include: his wife; daughters, Barbara Sherer of Rapid City, S.D.; Pam (Tom) Schneider of Brainerd, Minn.; Linda (Earl) Philippi of Clitherall; and Jami (Vern) Capelle of Little Falls, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren with one on the way; and five great-great-grandchildren with one on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald Sherer, three sisters: Arvilla Wylie, Ethel Patton and Mary Schave, and his much loved Coco.
Good-bye beloved husband and father.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Dementia Foundation.