James ‘Jim’ Lahti

James “Jim” Lahti, age 84, of Brooklyn Park died Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at his home. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale with Pastor Jon Brandon officiating. Burial followed at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery. Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday, both at the funeral home. James John Lahti was born July 24, 1938, in Cokato Township, Wright County to John H. and Minnie (Ojanpera) Lahti. Jim grew up in the French Lake area, where he attended country school. He was baptized and confirmed at Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church. Jim graduated from Annandale High School in 1956, and later on in life he attended Hennepin Technical College for machine shop technology. Jim was drafted into the United States Army. Upon his discharge, he worked for Portec Pioneer in Minneapolis. On May 28, 1966, he was united in marriage to Adeline Elfmann at Zion Lutheran Church in Annandale. They made their home in Minneapolis, before moving to their current home in Brooklyn Park in 1974. For many years, Jim worked for Checker Machine in Plymouth. Jim was a longtime member of Discover Church in Brooklyn Park, as well as the Cokato Finnish American Historical Society, and many gun clubs including Crow River Rangers, Cowboy Action Shooters, Single Action Shooting Society, and Granite City Gunslingers. He enjoyed attending threshing shows, trapping, fishing, hunting, gardening, blacksmithing, and muzzleloading. Jim was passionate about firearms, he even built two of his own muzzleloader rifles. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Adeline of Brooklyn Park; children, Wayne (Dawn) Kutina of Anoka and Wendy (Chris) Marschel of Fairhaven; grandchildren, Janelle and Amelia Marschel; siblings, Marvin (Kathy) Lahti of Annandale and Joanne Holley of Clearwater; sisters-in-law, Beverly Golembeck and Catherine (Richard) Ransom both of Annandale; and nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Richard Golembeck; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Akins. Robert Morris, James Lahti, Michael Latvala, Ray Lesher, Chris Marschel, Rodney Peters, and Christian Kutina will serve as casket bearers. Arrangements are entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Annandale. The obituary, guestbook, video tribute and funeral webcast are online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.