James Mutnansky, 57, died on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at his home in rural Goodridge, MN following a 19 month battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, October 15, 2010 at St. Anns Catholic Church in Goodridge, MN with Father John Kleinwachter presiding. Burial will follow at Poplar Grove Cemetery, rural Goodridge, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at St. Anns Catholic Church in Goodridge, MN. Visitation will also be held from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the church.

James Paul Mutnansky was born on July 14, 1953 in Thief River Falls, MN the son of Theresa (Kiesow) and the late Paul Mutnansky. He was baptized at St. Anns Catholic Church in Goodridge, MN and had his first Holy Communion and was confirmed at St. Clements Catholic Church in Grygla, MN. Jim attended Grygla Elementary School and graduated from Goodridge High School in 1971.

On October 15, 1977 Jim was united in marriage to Arletta Merck at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls. Out of this union six beautiful babies were born, Jennifer, Amanda, Melanie, Jessica, Matthew and Kristen.

Jim owned and operated his own backhoe service which he called Mutnansky Trenching. He ran this business until the time of his death. From 1971 until 1979, Jim farmed grain on the Mutnansky family farm and in 1979 he moved his family from Goodridge to the Mutnansky family farm and then added beef cattle.

Jim also was a school bus driver for the Goodridge School District, drove truck during the sugar beet harvest, he worked at Hydra-Mac, worked on the pipeline and most recently was a backhoe operator for Ed Morgan and was employed by Harzke Farms.

Jims passions in life were playing guitar in the Mutnansky Family Band, square dancing, old time dancing, watching his TV shows, camping, inventing, building and fixing things. He had ten different ways of fixing everything; the word cant was not in his vocabulary. Jim was quite a collector of inventory and lately he was into horse back riding and motorcycling with his friends. Jim was always there for his family in any time of need. Jim was a great story teller. He enjoyed spending time with his family and especially his two grandsons.

He was a member of St. Anns Catholic Church in Goodridge.

Survivors include five daughters, Jennifer (special friend, Darin Manning) Mutnansky of Paris, TX, Amanda (special friend, Luke Smith) Mutnansky of Goodridge, Melanie (Matt) Markuson of Virginia Beach, VA, Jessica (special friend, Dan Sayler) Mutnansky of Thief River Falls and Kristen Mutnansky of Grand Forks, ND, step-daughter, Amanda (H.) Zerr of Hondo, TX; the mother of his children, Arletta Mutnansky of Goodridge; mother, Theresa (special friend, Leonard Moe) Mutnansky of Goodridge; grandsons, Matthew Busse and Deondre Jethro Manning; siblings, Paulette (Tim) Kassa of Bemidji, MN, Joe Mutnansky of Goodridge, Jane (Cubby) Storlie of Cass Lake, MN, Mary (Billy) Herried of Bemidji, MN, Diane Kalsnes of Fargo, ND, Bonnie (Rodger) Njaa of Wannaska, MN, Patty (Stanley) Skibicki of Goodridge, Jodi Mutnansky of Bemidji, MN and Paula Mutnansky of Goodridge; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his son, Matthew Matt in 2002; father, Paul Papa Mutnansky in 1995; grandparents; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com

ACCOMPANIST: Audrey Rogalla
SOLOIST: Cathy Kainz
EULOGY: Gordy Henrickson
CASKETBEARERS: Keith Sistad, Larry Bryl, Gordy Henrickson, Ed Morgan, Gerald Kiesow, Howard Harzke