Ralph "Jim" Holmes Jr.

Ralph J. “Jim” Holmes, Jr, 82, longtime Superior area resident, passed away peacefully, Friday, January 10, 2014 at Essentia Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth, MN following a brief but courageous battle will cancer, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 20, 1931 in Superior, WI, the son of Ralph J. and Dorothy (Mahan) Holmes, Sr.

Jim graduated from the former East High School, in Superior. Jim served his country in the United States Army, during the Korean War. He married Nancy E. Bigley on December 27, 1957 and had recently celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage. Jim was employed by Murphy Oil Refinery for over thirty-five years.  He moved with Murphy Oil to Ferrysburg, Michigan and Rhinelander, Wisconsin before moving back to Superior until his retiring as Safety Director. Jim also enjoyed his many years as a greeter with the Lenroot-Maetzold and Downs-LeSage Funeral Homes in Superior.

He was a longtime member of Faith United Methodist Church, Superior; the Superior Acacia Itasca Masonic Lodge # 329; Superior Shrine Club; AAD Temple Shrine of Duluth; York-Rite Shrine; Red Cross of Constintine and Lake Gilmore Lake Home Owners Association. Jim was also District Chairman of Boy Scouts of America for many years and also received the order of the Arrow affiliated with Boy Scouts of America. Jim loved spending his summers at his lake home in Minong, WI.

Jim is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Nancy Holmes, Superior; four daughters, Kimberly (Ralph) Zuiker, Rhinelander, WI, Elizabeth (Andrew MacLachlan) Holmes, Marshfield, WI, Sarah (Daniel) Scheeringa, Star Prairie, WI, and Sandra (Tim) Holmes-Campbell, Stevens Point WI; three grandchildren, Grace Zuiker, Rhinelander, Sallie and Jakob Scheeringa, Star Prairie, WI; one sister, Nancy Dalton, Manitowoc, WI; a special cousin, Jack (Carole) Kyllo, Edina, MN and several nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM, Thursday, January 16, 2014 at the Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Ave, Superior, with a 6:30 PM Masonic Service. Visitation will continue at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 17, 2014 until the 11:00 AM Funeral Service at Faith United Methodist Church, Superior with Pastor Joel Certa-Werner, officiating. Pallbearers for the service will be Ronald Pete, Richard Eisenmann, Jack Byrd, Mark Furo, Bill Clements, Paul Reinier, Kenneth Beyer and Bob Ekstrom. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim’s grandson, Jakob Scheeringa and his son-in-laws, Ralph Zuiker, Daniel Scheeringa, Tim Campbell and members of the Aad Temple Shrine Provost Unit of Duluth, MN. Military Honors will be accorded at the church by the Richard I. Bong American Legion Post # 435 Honor Guard. Private family burial will be held at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery, Superior, WI.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made in memory of Jim to Faith United Methodist Church, 1531 Hughitt Ave., Superior, WI 54880 or Twin Cities Shrine Hospital, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

The Downs-LeSage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. To send a condolence or sign the on-line guest book, visit our website at www.downs-lesage.com.