Jim Beaudette, age 77, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at his home, on his 54 Wedding Anniversary.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 11 am, with a time of gathering one hour prior, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside.
Jim was born in St. Paul, MN on August 5th, 1945, to David and Katherine Beaudette (Delaney). He attended Nativity grade school and Cretin High School. He loved sports and also took a lot of pride in being part of the Junior ROTC program that was part of the Cretin High School experience. By his senior year at Cretin, Jim had risen to the rank of lieutenant commander of his battalion. Jim played basketball, but football was his true love. He played for the football team all four years of high school, and according to him, the team never lost a game. Jim would often recite the phrase, “Cretin, Cretin, can’t be beaten.”
After high school, Jim attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. He continued his football playing days at St. John’s playing for the legendary coach, John Gagliardi. During his time at St. John’s Jim was fortunate to be part of the 1963 national championship team. This was the first national championship for the university.
After graduating from St. John’s, Jim took a job with Sears Roebuck and Company. He dedicated 40 years of his life to the company in a variety of roles. He loved the leadership he was able to provide and took great pride in helping his employees be the best they could be. He also became a realtor while living in Sun City West, AZ and enjoyed helping people find their retirement homes.
Sports were always a big part of his life, and he continued his love of sports by coaching a number of teams that his four children were a part of. He also loved to play racquetball and golf. His abilities around the green earned him the nickname, “Mr. One Putt”. The other game that Jim loved to play was cribbage. He played often with his kids and enjoyed teaching his grandkids how to play as well.
Jim was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and leader. He took great pride in helping others. He was a big man with a big personality, and people always felt comfortable talking to him. He had a wonderful ability to bring out the best in everyone.
Jim is deeply missed by his wife of 54 years, Sue, his sons, Kris (Tara), Tim (Oralia), Shawn (Teresa), and his daughter, Kate. He is also deeply missed by his much-loved grandchildren, Austin, Evan, Maria, Owen, Emmett and Myles and his only sibling, Jeanne Doody.
Greeting Jim home in eternal peace are his parents and brother-in-law, Rick Doody.
