James V. Leebens, Jr. (or "Jim") as we knew him, passed away at age 77, on March 25, 2017 in Minneapolis, MN where he had been living for many years with his wife, Carla Leebens.  He was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his death. 

In life, he would often answer the telephone with, "City Morgue; Digger speaking!"  Jim read the obituary notices in the newspaper each day.  Afterward he would say, "Nope, my name's not in there.  Best day of my life!"

Jim was a retired salesperson.  We recall numerous conversations with Jim about his business he called Windmill Imports, at which he worked for 43 years.  Sometimes he had just returned from a trip to Europe -- particularly The Netherlands -- where he had made business deals to import various goods and crafts to America, where he sold them at various outlets for a profit, of course.  That was his primary lifelong business.  While on a trip to The Netherlands many years ago, he met and married his wife, Carla Hoedeman, in 1963, in the town of Haarlem, Netherlands.  She was his favorite "craft."  Jim enjoyed traveling and visiting with Carla's family still back in The Netherlands. 

He also enjoyed sailing, hunting, reading historical non-fiction -- especially about World War II.  Whenever he did household renovations, which he loved to do, Carla was always at his side and their projects were always accomplished with mutual cooperation and involvement.  Jim and Carla owned a cabin in Ladysmith, Wisconsin and a 3-bedroom Chalet in Beffe, Belgium, which they visited two to three months each year.  Jim and Carla sailed the inland waters of Holland and Belgium, and across the North Sea to England.  When hunting, his favorites were deer, geese and ducks of either Northern Minnesota or Alberta, Canada.

In high school Jim participated on the Track Team in all 3 years, as well as the Cross Country Team.  He was a member of our Letterman's Club, and joined the Science Club during our senior year.  When in the military service, Jim joined the US Army Paratroopers for 6 years.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James V. and Nancy Leebens, and a sister, Linda Knigge.  Many of the "Northside Boys" in our class fondly recall playtimes in the Leebens side yard, where basketball was the main attraction.  Those Northsiders remember Jim's parents as the type who always welcomed all the area neighbors to their property.  They were like another set of parents.  That's the way it was back is the 1940s and 50s.

Jim is survived by wife Carla of 54 years, children Michelle (Jim) Leebens-Mack, Richard (Kim) Leebens, and Eric Leebens; grandchildren Heather (Doug) Castagnola, Ian Leebens-Mack, Kenton and Nicholas Leebens, Mackenzie, Tyler, Makayla and Trevor Leebens; great-grandchildren Derek, Lincoln, and Hailey Castagnola; and siblings John (Shirley) Leebens, Wayne Knigge, and Mary (Marcus) Swan.

The service celebrating Jim's life was held on April 8, 2017 at the Sunset Funeral Chapel at 2250 St. Anthony Blvd., NE, Minneapolis, MN, with internment with military honors at the Sunset Cemetery.  The family requested that any memorial be made as a donation to the cure for Alzheimer's at http://www.alzfdn.org/ or for fighting Leukemia http://www.allbloodcancers.org/.