James Marion Kitchens

HOFF FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE - RUSHFORD 507-864-7771 RUSHFORD, MINN. - James Marion Kitchens, 85, of Rushford, Minn. died on Friday, September 6, 2013, at Winona Health in Winona, Minn. James was born on December 16, 1927, in Le Flore, Oklahoma to Jesse and Ellen (Ferguson) Kitchens. James was united in marriage with Dorothy Helen Raas on September 12, 1953. He served in the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Air Force from 1946 to 1977, when he retired with the Rank of CM-SGT and was the Base Sergeant Major of the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Following his retirement from the Military, he lived in both Cheyenne, Wyoming and Denver Colorado. James worked for U.S. West Telephone until his retirement in 1992. Following the death of his wife, Dorothy in 1993, James moved to Rushford, Minn. where he lived the remainder of his life. In his spare time, James enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, softball, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Oklahoma Sooners and the St. Louis Cardinals. James is survived by his son, James (Debbie) Kitchens of Rushford; two granddaughters: Donata Kitchens of Byron, Minn., and Danielle (Josh) Rasmussen of Rushford; and by three great-grandchildren: Isaas, Mackenzie, and Lucas. James is preceded in death by his parents, wife, and seven siblings: Sally, Charlie, Nellie, Jessie, Martha, JT and WC. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Rushford. A prayer service and military honors will follow the visitation at the funeral home. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minn. Leave a memory of James and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com