Obituary of James Marvin Sunnarborg

James Marvin Sunnarborg, 88 of Esko passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021 in his home with his loving family by his side. Jim was born July 30, 1932 in Esko to Edward and Helen Sunnarborg. He graduated from Esko High School in 1951. Jim served in the Army from 1952 to 1954 on the front lines during the Korean War. He married Nancy Barney on October 1, 1955 in the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Esko. Jim worked for the railroad for one year, Erickson Dairy for five years, and then Duluth Laundry which became Unitog Laundry until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church and a member of the Teamster Union Local 346. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, church, sauna, family and camping. Jim was preceded in death by an infant son, Kevin; infant grandson, Seth DeVries; granddaughter-in-law, Lucy Sunnarborg; and infant great granddaughter, Jemima Sunnarborg. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy; sons, Gordon (Jane) of Kalispell, MT, Keith (Debbie) of Brainerd, Mark (Bonnie) of Rhinelander, WI, Michael (Colleen) of Cloquet, and Craig (Lisa) of Battle Ground, WA; daughter, Heidi (Gerald) DeVries of Sturgeon Lake; 20 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren with four more on the way; siblings, Donald (Ida Rose) of Laural, MT, Evelyn McClellan of Hendersonville, NC, Luella Puumala of New Hope, Jean Anderson of New Hudson, MI, Harvey (Carol) of Cloquet, and Raynold of Esko; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation: 12:00 Noon until the 2:00 p.m. funeral service Thursday, February 18, 2021 in the Atkins Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. Military Honors will be accorded by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Burial will be in the spring in Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery in Esko. Masks and social distancing are required. From the funeral home parking lot, the funeral can be heard on FM 98.3. A video recording of the service will be available on the funeral home website after the service. Letters and cards of condolence may be sent to the family, c/o the funeral home. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com