James Edward Buchholz

James (Jim) Edward Buchholz, 79, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away on Thursday, September 28th, 2023.

He was born in Minneapolis, MN on November 1st, 1943 to Clarence and Lillian (Pladson) Buchholz. He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1961. While at Glenwood High, Jim was a member of the football, track, and wrestling teams. He won the All-Around Athlete award while in high school. In 1965, he graduated from Moorhead State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. He later went on to complete his Master’s Degree. He taught from 1965-1999 in Detroit Lakes, MN. After retirement, he continued to be a substitute teacher because of his passion for teaching until 2020. He coached the 9th grade football team and was an elementary coach. He was the head coach for the DLHS Girls Golf team for over 25 years. He led them to the MN State title in 2006.

Jim married the love of his life, Cathy, on June 12th, 1965. They met in 1962 at a dance hosted at the Glenwood Pavilion. They were inseparable after that. They moved to Detroit Lakes when Jim started teaching in 1965. They went on to have four sons, Darin, Scott, Brent, and Kyle, and eight grandchildren.

Jim was active at his church, First Lutheran Church, as a member the council including a term as President, a member of the choir for over 50 years, and enjoyed reading the scriptures for the congregation. He was also a member of the Jaycees and was a board member.

Those that knew Jim knew that he enjoyed many sports, and he taught many of them to his boys and their friends. He loved golfing and his summers were always filled with working at the golf course and playing as many holes as he could squeeze in. He also loved curling, skiing, football, and swimming. His Sundays were spent watching the Minnesota Vikings, either cheering them on or yelling at them about how to play. He was also a bit of a daredevil; his oldest grandson found him very entertaining when he jumped from a cliff into the water at his house on the Mississippi River.

Jim enjoyed life to the fullest.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy of Detroit Lakes, MN. His four sons Darin (Suzanne) of Sartell, MN; Scott of Cabo, Mexico; Brent (Ale) of Naples, FL; Kyle (Samantha) of Bloomington, MN. Eight grandchildren; Hayden, Lauren, Ariana, Hailey, Matteo, Nicholas, Max, and Lillian. And many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Lillian; sister Jan (Buchholz) Johnson, brother-in-law Brian Johnson; and sisters-in-law Jeanie Mellett and Rita Rens.