James “Jim” R. Mansfield Jr.
ST PAUL, MN – Born July 16, 1934 in St. Paul, Mn, and Passed Feb 20, 2026 at The Waters of St. Paul, MN. Between those dates a resident of Sydney and Scottsbluff, Nebraska and then Marquette, Michigan for 45 years.
Son of James Richard Mansfield Senior and Ruby Audrey Mansfield (Scott) and Husband to Roma Jean Mansfield (Miller ) for 61 years until her passing in 2017.
Survived by Daughter, Cynthia Lynn Simmons (Mansfield) of Minneapolis, Minnesota and her husband Steve. Five Grandsons: Donovan (Brittany), Andrew, Christopher (Kate), Alex, and Benjamin.
He was thrilled to have so many fishing buddies born into the family.
Known for many years as the State Farm Agent across from McDonalds on Washington Ave, he also wore many other hats.
He was a Middle School teacher and Principal in Sydney Nebraska, and an Administrator for the Superintendent in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
After adopting their daughter in 1966, they picked up the family and moved “way up north” to Marquette; back to the woods and Great Lakes that he learned to love as a child growing up in Minnesota.
He first worked for Northern Michigan University as Director of Student Teaching and then Director of Teacher Selection.
Getting bored with that, he totally switched gears, went back to school, and became a State Farm Agent. He truly believed that the was helping people through their hardest times and was proud of the individual service attention he gave.
Looking for more challenges, he became a business owner as he bought the buildings he originally rented and then invested in his final job: Owner of Gold Eagle Supply an industrial cleaning product company that worked with the schools, hospitals and mines throughout the UP.
He was very involved with many civic organization throughout Marquette including: Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army and Investment Club. He also was a Marquette School board member and President just so he could hand his daughter her diploma when she graduated.
He spent 4 years in the Army based in Crailsheim, Germany where he and his wife “Jeannie” had wonderful travels thorough out Europe in the 1950’s.
After retirement they moved out of Marquette to Chocolay Township to be in the country and spent time traveling in their RV and visiting warm states during long UP winters. After his wife’s dementia diagnosis, they moved to Minnesota to be by family and spend time with his grandsons.
A memorial Service was held at Becketwood Chapel, 4300 W. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55406 on May 8th at 2 pm with food and drinks in the Kensington Room below the chapel afterwards.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to: BayCliff Health Camp, PO Box 310 Big Bay MI 49808, Venmo and PayPal accepted too. The Salvation Army, 1009 W. Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI 49855