Jim Henkes, 76, of Staples, formerly of Fergus Falls, died March 27, 2009 at Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples.

Funeral services were held April 1, at the First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls with Rev. Saul Stensvaag officiating. Burial was in the First Lutheran Cemetery North, Fergus Falls.

Arrangements were with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.

Jim was born June 8, 1932, in Fergus Falls to John and Ada (Martin) Henkes. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1950. He attended and graduated from Bemidji State University in 1954. Jim met Bette Stengrim at Bemidji State and they were married June 11, 1955, in the First Presbyterian Church in Stephen by Rev. Wilhelm Hempel.

Teaching and coaching were Jim's passion, along with hunting, fishing, feeding the birds, puttering in his garage, Viking Cafe in Fergus Falls, his hat and radio collections and 20 years of weather journals. His first coaching job was in Nome, North Dakota followed by Battle Lake and Wheaton where he taught and coached for over 30 years until 1974. Jim retired from Wheaton as Athletic Director in 1979, he continued to coach and teach his chidren and grandchildren up until the 2009 NCAA basketball playoffs.

He was a member of the Traverse County Masonic Lodge #189, the Wheaton Fire Department, volunteer driver for American Red Cross and a lifetime member of the Minnesota Coaches Association. He was also a member of the Fergus Falls High School Hall of Fame, the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame, Bemidji State Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Coaches Hall of Fame.

Jim is survived by his wife, five daughters, Mary (David) Freeman, Laurie Bach; Nancy Jo Henkes , all of Staples; Ann (John) Henkes-Anderson of Maple Grove; Karen (John) Tomassetti of Chicago, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two borthers, Fritz and John Henkes.

Memorials are preferred to Jim Henkes Scholarship Award Fund at Wheaton High School and the American Red Cross.

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