James “Jim” William Stough, age 62 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born on June 6, 1956, in Jackson, Minnesota, to Roger and Shirley (Bechtel) Stough. He was baptized on July 6, 1956 and confirmed on May 24, 1970. He grew up and attended school in Estherville, Iowa, graduating from Estherville High School in 1974 and then attending Iowa Lakes Community College. Jim was employed at Pizza Hut as a store manager for five years before working for his father at Estherville Millworks.  On May 8, 1982, Jim married Terri Groninger at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn, Minnesota, the same church in which his parents were married. Together they raised two children, son Brian and daughter Kelsey. Jim went on to attend Worsham College of Mortuary Science located in the Chicago, Illinois area, graduating in 1985 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He served his internship and continued to work at Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville, Iowa until 1989 when he went to work at Olson Funeral Home, which served several communities in the Fairmont area.  In July 2000, Jim started working at Worlein Funeral Home. He was a licensed funeral director in both the states of Minnesota and Iowa.  Jim was also a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He served the Austin community with involvement in the Austin Noon Lions, Austin Chamber of Commerce, serving as an Ambassador, a volunteer for the Freedom Festival parade, and on the 100 Club.  He was a member of the Austin Country Club and St. John’s Lutheran Church. In his free time, he enjoyed Green Bay Packer football, Hawkeye sports, sprint car races, golf, trips to Las Vegas, sampling craft beers, and spending time with his family. Jim will be remembered as a big presence who gave his all to his work and family. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Terri Stough of Austin, Minnesota; son, Brian (Kate Hansen) Stough of Minocqua, Wisconsin; daughter, Kelsey Stough of Bloomington, Minnesota; father, Roger (Joyce) Stough of Webster City, Iowa; one sister, Becky (Dave) Hoss of Pipestone, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Jim (Pam) Groninger of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sisters-in-law, Kelly (Jeff) Kennedy of Henderson, Nevada, Connie Groninger of North Mankato, Minnesota; nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley in 1988; his grandparents; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gerald “Joe” and Sylvia Groninger.

former owner, Kennedy Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died February 27, 2016, at age 70. As a funeral home manager and owner, Kennedy had more than 35 years of experience. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated from Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College in September 1966. Throughout his career, Kennedy managed funeral homes in Ada and Hugo and owned funeral homes in Okmulgee, Bristow, Wetumka, Ardmore and Marietta; he retired in October 2000. He served eight years on the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, with three terms as president; four years on the Bank of Love County Board of Directors; and on the Love County Chamber of Commerce Board of directors for four years. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One," from 1967-69, with one year of Graves Registration in Vietnam, for which he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, three Bronze Stars, two Vietnam Service Medals, one Vietnam Air Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by wife Sue; children Tara, Amber and Travis; and seven grandchildren.