James J. Mulder, 76, of Flandreau, SD, passed away Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Riverview Healthcare Community, Flandreau.
James was born February 20, 1942 at Orange City, IA to Peter J. and Lorine (Kiewel) Mulder. In March of 1950 the family moved to a farm in Spring Creek Township northwest of Flandreau. Jim worked and lived with Mark and Elaine Powers during high school. He graduated from Flandreau High School in 1961. Jim married Darlene Peper on July 4, 1961 at Pipestone, MN. In 1962 he started working for Ekern Home Equipment. He then worked in the sheet metal trade close to 50 years. Jim worked in South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota for Thorson, Tessier, Krier & Blain and wherever Sheet Metal International would send him.  He then worked for Baete-Forseth for over 30 years until his retirement in November 2007. They called him “the best damn tinner in the trade.” Jim was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the Sheet Metal International Association Local #14 (Local 10). He raised hogs for many years, was a member of SD Pork Producers and loved cooking pork loins on the big grill for special occasions. Jim also raised a beautiful garden each year and always shared the abundance.
Jim is survived by his wife: Dar, Flandreau; three children: Pam Schipper and Doug Mulder, both of Flandreau; Colleen (J.D.) Headrick, Trenton, IL; five grandchildren: Lacey (Corey VanDyke) Schipper, Rowden Schipper and Serenity Yockey, all of Flandreau; Alyssa and Kelby Headrick, both of O’Fallon, IL; 10  great-grandchildren, Cameron Schipper, Carson, Eleahna, Caedon and Colton VanDyke; Masen and Davien Schipper; Keelan Yockey; Letty Hansen; Dakota Headrick; his sister: Delores (John) Nikunen, Thornton, CO; his brother: Peter D. (Louise) Mulder, Greenwood, AR; his stepsister: Clarice (Dennis) Dean, Las Vegas; his brother-in-law: Jim (Connie) Peper, Flandreau; and two sisters-in-law: Bev (Wayne) Taylor, Flandreau and Jo Rice, Howard, SD.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Peter J. and June Mulder and Lorine and Elmer Kuehn, in-laws, Emil and Wilma Peper; son-in-law Cam Schipper and stepbrother Rollie Craig.
His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 27, 2018 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Flandreau, with burial in Hillside Cemetery, Egan. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau. www.skrochfc.com