James Andrew Koonce age 86 of Brainerd passed away peacefully on September 1, 2017 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.  He was born in St. Paul on August 3, 1931 to Robert and Ann (Sedor) Koonce.  Jim married Gladys Hatlestad on October 12, 1957 in Morris.

He was a US Navy Veteran.  He was a retired engineer with St. Paul Water Utilities, retiring to the Brainerd area in 1994.  He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Deerwood and the Carl Sydney Hanson American Legion Post 255, Brainerd.

Jim was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He is survived by his wife, Gladys; one daughter, Jean (John) Bartlet; three sons, Ron (Cindy) Koonce, James Koonce, and Tom Koonce; 4 brothers, Robert (Harriet) Koonce, Lee (Jane) Koonce, Donald (Pat) Koonce and John (Nancy) Roonce; sister, Carol Loehr (John Gardener); six grandchildren, Nick, Jill, Robert (Katie), Michael (Stacy), Tristan, and Jacob; eight great grandchildren, Elijah, Caleb, Gavin, Ava, Julia, Taylor, Elizabeth and Jenny.

Preceding Jim in death are his parents and two brothers, Leonard and Ed Koonce.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 12:00 pm on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Deerwood.  Burial will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Nokay Lake Township with full military honors by Carl Sydney Hanson American Legion Post.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.  Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.

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