Funeral services for James Albert Statema will be held at noon on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Browerville, MN, with Father David Maciej presiding, and a visitation Wednesday, April 22 from four until eight pm.  Jim passed away at the Long Prairie Hospital on Friday, April 17.

                  Jim was born on January 16, 1941 to John and Dena Statema in Little Elk township by Coal Lake.  He attended Batavia School District 54 for eight years and graduated from Staples High School in 1959.  He married Constance Lunemann of Clarissa on November 25, 1967.  In 1974 Jim, Connie and family moved to the family farm in Browerville, MN.  Jim worked as a machinist for 25 years and then started “digging holes” and driving his Mack trucks when he began Statema Backhoe in 1994.  Jim loved to farm, hunt, fish and spend time with his children and grandchildren.  Jim took on a hobby of competing against his grandsons tractor pulling, smiling all the way (even if he lost).  Jim and Connie enjoyed taking a drive on a warm summer day in their shiny Corvette and spending quality time with the family at their lake cabin. 

                  Jim is survived by his wife Connie, sons Andy (Gina) Statema of Browerville,  Steve (Penny) Statema of Staples, and daughter Angela (Mike) Anderson of Cushing, and six grandchildren, Shayne (15), Jordan (13), Julia (12), John (8), Elijah (4), and Eliya (2).

He  was preceded in death by his parents, John and Dena Statema, sister, Jean Statema, and brother Calvin Statema.