James Phipps

James W. Phipps, age 91, of Blue Earth, died Thursday, April 3, 2014 at St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th Street, Blue Earth. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial will be at a later date in Riverside Cemetery in Winnebago. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comJim was born December 14, 1922 in Winnebago, MN to Dr. Lester and Dorothy (Gregerson) Phipps. Jim graduated from Winnebago High School in 1940 and attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, MN. In 1942 he joined the Marines Corp and spent much of his time in the Pacific and Main Land China during WW II . Jim was honorably discharged from the Marines on February 19, 1946. He returned to Winnebago to continue his life and married Kathleen Sullivan on February 7, 1948. He earned the right to belong to the American Legion and VFW for his service to his country. Jim served as Commander of the Blue Earth Legion Post 89 and served on the Governors Crime Council. This past year he had the privilege of being a 60 year member of the American Legion. In 1955 he moved to Blue Earth to become a Deputy Sheriff working for Earl Fletcher. In 1968 he took a job as the Civil Defense Director for Faribault County and later retired in 1984. He continued to live in Blue Earth, where he worked part time for Sheriff Roger Fletcher. Jim trapped squirrels, only to release them, was an avid bird watcher and loved to play cribbage in the basement of the Legion.Jim is survived by his daughters: Susan Phipps of Blue Earth, Theresa (Jim) Brod of New Prague, Patricia (Bill) Remmert of Aitkin, Leslie Phipps of Eagle Lake, sister, Katherine Miller of Littleton, CO., six grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, wife-Kathleen in 2011 and a sister, Mary Harden.