Jim J. Drown

James J. “Jim” Drown, age 82, of Parkers Prairie, died on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at his home.

Funeral services are 11 a.m., Monday, February 17, 2025, at Grace Christian Church in Parkers Prairie. Interment will take place at Parkers Prairie Cemetery.

A visitation will be held 4-7 p.m., on Sunday at Lind Family Funeral Home in Parkers Prairie and will continue one hour prior to the service.

James Jay was born on August 15, 1942, to Blaine and Lillian (Angus) Drown in Curlew, Iowa. He graduated from Emmetsburg High School in 1960. He attended Oak Hills Bible College in Bemidji, Minnesota where he met his future wife, Alice “Dee” Smith. They were united in marriage on August 24, 1963, at First Baptist Church in Parkers Prairie. Following their marriage, Jim was stationed with the U.S. Air Force in California, Kansas, Vietnam, Turkey and Okinawa. Following his honorable discharge, they returned to Minnesota, and he was employed by Control Data Corp. in Arden Hills. They later moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he worked as an auto mechanic. In 1989, they moved to Parkers Prairie to care for Dee’s aging parents on their farm. Jim and Dee later purchased the farm and made it their residence. Jim worked in Alexandria as an auto mechanic until his retirement. His wife, Dee died in December of 2012. Jim was blessed to marry Karen Smith on September 22, 2015. Following their marriage, he joined Karen on her farm where he lived until the time of his death. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, spending time with friends and family and visiting. He loved vintage cars, especially his 1968 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Dee; and brothers, Dan and Marion. Jim is survived by his wife of 9 years, Karen Smith Drown; four bonus sons, Steven (Jenny) Smith of Johnston, Iowa, Mike (Norie) Smith of Minneapolis, Phillip Smith of McGregor and Mark (Barb) Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two bonus daughters, Shelly (Mike) Compton of Austin and Lisa (Rick) Sicora of Gold Beach, Oregon; two brothers, Dick (Lois) Drown of Baxter and Roger (Val) Drown of Montrose, Colorado; two sisters, Jean (Frank) Morley of Raymore, Missouri and Lorraine (Paul) Malone of Glendive, Montana; sister-in-law, LuAnn Drown of Delta, Colorado; 11 bonus grandchildren; 16 bonus great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Mike Compton, Scott Stanbra, Rick Sicora, Abbi Smith, Bethany James, Carolynn Smith, Arianna Simon, and Lexi Ward.