James Glen Sanden, age 85, of Princeton, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 15, 2021 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jim was born on July 3, 1936, in Harmony, Minnesota, the son of Glen and Edith Sanden. He served four years in the United States Air Force. Jim worked as a welder at Hoffman Engineering in Anoka for 33 years. He married his wife Darlene in 1977; they were married for 39 years.
Jim was a collector and a carpenter. He always had a beautiful garden. He loved spending time at his cabin near Harmony, hunting deer and squirrels. Jim and Darlene loved to travel, visiting all 50 states together. Jim recently suffered from dementia; He spent the last eight months of his life in the full-time care of his grandson Cameren. Jim wanted his body to be donated to the Anatomy Legacy Program at U of M.
Jim is survived by daughters Jennifer Sanden of St. Paul, Minn., Beth Sanden of Park City, Utah and Vicki Sanden of Port St. Lucie, Fla., son Mark (Laura) Sanden of Apple Valley, Minn.; grandchildren Caitlyn, Cameren, Danielle, Jimmy, Jayden, Ashley, Sophie, Lauren and Andrew; three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Darlene, his brothers John, Lyle and Paul, and his son Arnold Meier.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2022, from 12-4 pm at Dock & Paddle, Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Parkway N,St. Paul, Minn. When he finishes teaching medical students in June 2023, he will be laid to rest at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota.