James Tack

Jim Tack, 66, of Willmar, died Sunday, September 23, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday, October 1, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday, September 30, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Lutheran Social Services or the American Red Cross.

James Alvin Tack was born December 5, 1945, in Cokato, Minnesota, to Alvin and Gladys (Isaacson) Tack. He was baptized and confirmed at Cokato Lutheran Church and attended Cokato schools, graduating in 1963. He then attended St. Cloud State University where he met his future wife, Sharon Nerem. In 1968, they married in Lamberton, Minnesota and had just celebrated 44 years of marriage on September 21, 2012. In 1971, Jim graduated from Southwest State University in Marshall, where he also played football. In 1972, Jim and Sharon moved to Norman, Oklahoma where Jim attended graduate school at the University of Oklahoma. After receiving his Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work in 1974, they settled in Des Moines, Iowa where Jim worked for the Family Counseling Center. In 1979, he became employed at Woodland Centers in Willmar, where he worked as a Clinical Social Worker and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Supervisor for 31 years. After retiring from Woodland Centers, he continued to work part-time as a Clinical Social Worker at Lutheran Social Services. He was dedicated to his clients and touched many lives in positive ways.

Jim enjoyed traveling, especially the trips when the children were young to such places as Yellowstone, Aspen, Glacier National Park, Washington D.C., the Sunshine Mine in Idaho, Canada, a Boundary Waters Canoe trip with his son, and numerous other places. He followed politics with great fervor and was a faithful viewer of MSNBC. He was an ardent supporter of all Minnesota sports. He was a member of the YMCA and prided himself in physical fitness whether it was running, biking or working out at the Y. When he was younger he ran the Green Lake Road Race. He enjoyed the peace he found at his mother and father-in-law's farm, but the most peace he had in his life was taking comfort and enjoyment in his wife, children and most especially his grandchildren, Andrew (11) and Emma (6).

Jim is survived by his loving wife Sharon of Willmar; son Peter Tack and his daughter Emma of Edina; daughter Martha Tack and her son Andrew of Willmar; his father and mother-in-law Raymond and Arlene Nerem of Lamberton; brother Alan; sisters-in-law Audrey Tack, Linda Williams and Joyce (and Paul) Dawson; nephews Howard, John and Nat and their families; nieces Mari, Joanne, Laura, Karen, Julie and their families; many cousins; special friends Bob & Joyce Jacobson; and his grandson's dog Percy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Howard; his beloved dogs Duncan and Croxie; and cat Callie.

Blessed Be His Memory.