James Paul Tillmann

James was born April 15, 1945 to Charles and Volly (Sween) Tillmann in Montevideo, Minnesota. He graduated from Montevideo High School in 1963 and then attended Mankato State College and Mankato Area Technical Vocational School in the Tool & Die Maker Program. He was united in marriage to Sharon Thomton on 11-20-65 at Bergen Lutheran Church near Montevideo, Minnesota. He graduated from the Tool & Die Program and then went on to F.M.C. in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a four year apprenticeship program; he received his Journeyman’s card and served on the Rules and Bylaws Committee for the United Auto Workers. (UAW) He worked as a Tool & Die Maker at Corchran Brothers Manufacturing in Waseca, Minnesota, was a mold maker at Telex Corporation in Glencoe, Minnesota, 3M Co. in Hutchinson, Minnesota before coming to live in Breckenridge, Minnesota, where he taught in the Tool & Die Department at the North Dakota State College of Science from 1973 until 1984. In June of 1976 he started his own Tool & Die business that lasted for 30 years before having an auction in June 2006, when he retired.

Jim enjoyed being with family and friends; teaching, (11yr’s) having his own business, (30yr’s) and his 24 years on the Breckenridge Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading, casinos, watching football, basketball, and the Christmas Parties he had with his employees. But he mostly enjoyed yearly trips with his wife and two kids, Darcy and Andy, to 48 states. He loved watching Darcy play volleyball, cheerlead, and golf, and Andy play basketball, football and golf.

Jim, many times, said the worst day in his life was when he had to start laying off employees because he thought he was blessed with the greatest employees any one could have ever had.

Jim is survived by his daughter Darcy and her husband Chad Miller of Fridley, MN, his son Andy from Grand Rapids, MN, his brother Jon of Elk River, MN, several in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, his parents, Charles and Volly Tillmann, two brothers Chuck and Joe both from Alexandria, MN, sister-in-law Rachel Tillmann of Elk River, MN, nephew Eric Tillmann of Alexandia, MN, his sister-in-law Susan Ranney along with her husband, Jim's brother-in-law Mike Ranney of Albert Lea, MN.

The Tillmann Family