James L. Brainard

James L. Brainard, age 84 of rural Glenwood, died Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 27th at 1:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Glenwood Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.  

James Leroy Brainard was born on November 12, 1937 in Minnewaska Township, Pope County, Minnesota to Albert L. and Sarah Avis (Dill) Brainard. He was the youngest of six children. He grew up on the family farm near Glenwood and attended Glenwood Lutheran church as a child. James attended Minnewaska District 33 country school and Glenwood High School where he graduated from in 1956. While in school, James was a member of the Pleasant Hill Troopers 4-H Club. After graduation, he worked on the family farm with his father and brother, Charles. He also went to Michigan where he learned the plumbing and heating trade from his brother, Aaron. James entered the United States Army Reserve in 1966 as part of the 205 Brigade, Company B. He trained at Fort McCoy. James was employed in several area machine and plumbing shops. He also was an independent plumbing and heating contractor.

James began attending First Baptist Church in Glenwood when he married, Gloria J. Moe on June 8, 1962. The couple made their home in Minnewaska Township. James will be remembered for his love and devotion to his family. He loved being outside that was where you would find him; hunting, fishing, working on his equipment, working in the woods or simply walking through them. If he wasn’t outside, he was frequently planning to be. He would often draw lines in his atlas mapping out trips he wanted to take, traveling by “riding his thumb” as he called it. When able to travel, James took his family to many of Minnesota State Parks, and historical sites. When he wasn’t outdoors, James enjoyed reading about world history, watching the news, various television shows and historical movies. James enjoyed country and western music as well as old gospel songs. He also enjoyed playing a good game: rook, chess, checkers, or trivial pursuit. No matter what he was doing, his cup of coffee was always close by. James died Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck.

James is survived by his children: Kimberly J. Brainard of Glenwood, Lance W. (Kimberle Anderson) Brainard of Kensington, and Johnathan P. Brainard of Willmar; grandchildren: Alexander (Kayla) Brainard and Alexis (Kyle) Erwin; great-grandchildren, Colton J. and Asher G. Brainard; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Brainard; parents, Albert and Sarah Avis Brainard; siblings, Aaron Brainard, Charles Brainard, Virgiline Lindquist, Catherine Brainard and Lu DeMartelaere.

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