James J. Wickum was born on April 5, 1943, in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up and attended school in Moorhead, MN, at St. Joseph Catholic School and then graduated from the Campus High School at Moorhead State Teacher’s College. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1963, at San Diego, CA. He served in the Vietnam War on the U.S.S. Ticonderoga in Tonkin Bay. He was discharged in 1968 and returned to Moorhead. James married Rosemarie Varriano on August 16, 1969, in Dilworth, MN. He attended Moorhead Tech for two years, studying Heating and Air Conditioning and then attended Pipefitters school in Grand Forks, ND. He worked for various plumbing and heating contractors in the Fargo-Moorhead area and then worked at Moorhead Tech for two years before going to work for the Fargo Public School District. He retired from the school district as Chief Engineer in 2001, for health reasons. James was a ham radio enthusiast and loved to talk to people all over the world. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

James is survived by his wife, Rosemarie Wickum, Moorhead, MN; three sons, Derek (Elizabeth), Mizpah, MN, Daren (Fiancé Jessica Wiltz) Minneapolis, MN, and Damon, Madison, WI; one sister, Mary Ann (Kenneth) Weldon, Hutchinson, MN; one granddaughter, Paige Li; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral: Friday, January 21, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN.

Visitation: One hour before services at the church.

Interment: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.