James M. “Jim” LeClaire

Published December 15, 2020 at 8:14 AM

James M. “Jim” LeClaire, age 74 of Sauk Centre, passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2020 at the CentraCare Care Center in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, December 21 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Greenwald. Military Honors will be provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

There will be no visitation prior to the Mass at church.

James Michael LeClaire was born January 12, 1946 in Melrose, Minnesota to Arnold and Dorine (Thielen) LeClaire. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1965 through 1971. Jim worked for the Melrose Telephone Company, LeClaire Electric in New Munich, and Aaron Electric in Blaine, Minnesota. In 1976, Jim moved to Bemidji and worked as State Electrical Inspector for 25 years. He started working at Home Depot in 2002 until retiring in 2019. Two of Jim’s favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his children, Paul LeClaire of Sacramento, California and Kelli Seitz of Bemidji; step-daughter, Kristen Nelson of Bemidji; two grandchildren, James and Juliana LeClaire; step-grandson, Wyatt Nelson; brothers and sister, Tom (Barb) LeClaire of Woodbury, Lola (Mark) Welle of Sauk Centre, and Perry (Kathy) LeClaire of Spring Hill.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Michael LeClaire.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services, Sauk Centre.