July 29, 2013
Buffalo, MN
Whalen, James P. age 71 of Buffalo, MN passed away on July 29, 2013 at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN. Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11 AM at St. Francis Catholic Church, Buffalo, MN. Visitation on Friday from 4-8 PM with a prayer service at 7:30 PM also at the church. Interment at St. Francis Cemetery, Buffalo, MN. Jim was born on September 12, 1941 to James H. & Margaret Julia (Garland) Whalen in Denver, CO. He joined the Redemtorist and graduated from St. Joseph's Prep School & received his Bachelors of Art degree from Holy Redeemer College. Jim also earned his Master's degree from Mount Saint Alphonsus. He was ordained on June 21, 1967 by the Archbishop of Milwaukee, The Most Reverend William E. Cousins, D.D. at the Redemptorist Fathers' Seminary Chapel in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
He received his dispensation from Rome on October 6, 1974. In April of 1974 he married Patricia Galvin in St. Paul, MN. Following their marriage he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad in Nebraska from 1976 until his retirement in 1999. In November of 1999, they moved to Buffalo. Jim loved golfing, visiting with people, reading & volunteering. He was a joyful person with a love of people. He never met a stranger. Jim enjoyed wearing his captain's hat for tours around Lake Pulaski in his pontoon. His pride & joy were his children & his grandchildren & most importantly, were his faith & family. Preceded in death by his parents. Survived by his wife, Pat; children, Lisa (Chad Kochmann) Whalen, Julie (Matt) Dettinger, James (Jennifer) Whalen Jr.; grandchildren, Maria Whalen age 7, Grant Whalen age 5, Benjamin Whalen age 17 mos., Mary Dettinger age 2 & Molly Dettinger age 4 mos.
Published in Star Tribune on July 31, 2013