Mass of Christian Burial for James "Jim" Alan Kerzman, 68, of rural Mott, ND will be on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mott Armory. Fr. Charles Zins, Fr. Bruce Krebs, Fr. Dennis Schafer and Abbot Brian Wangler will officiate and burial will follow at the St. Placidus Cemetery, northeast of Mott. Visitations will be on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary & Wake service at 8:00 p.m. all at the St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Mott, and one hour prior to the Mass at the Armory on Wednesday morning.


James Alan "Jim" Kerzman was born March 2, 1947 in Minot, ND to James and Ione (Nissen) Kerzman. He was raised on the farm near Emmet, ND until 1950 when the family moved to the farm near Mott, ND. He attended grade school at Steiner Country School and high school at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND. In 1965, Jim's parents were killed in a car crash, leaving him to raise his 14 brothers and sisters. He took over the family farm while also attending college at Dickinson State University and ND State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he studied mechanics. While in college in Wahpeton, he met Lila Brunkhorst. They were married Dec. 27, 1969 and moved home to the farm near Mott. They had eight children before Lila's death on Nov. 18, 1986. Jim married Jill Dietz on Sept. 4, 1987, and welcomed her four children as his own. Together, they raised their ten children on the farm where Jim and his brother Jerome farmed and raised cattle and sheep.


Jim served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1991 until 2009. He served on the Slope Electric Board of Directors and was involved in the rural electric system. Jim loved the fact that these organizations brought the same electric and communication opportunities to people in rural North Dakota as in larger communities.


Jim was passionate about family farms and was active in the North Dakota Farmers Union. He was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church and was heavily involved in the Knights of Columbus as a Fourth Degree Knight. Jim had a deep love for the Benedictine monks. They taught him the social justices of the Catholic Church, and he strived to live his life according to those principles.


Jim's family was his greatest joy. He was so very proud of his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and siblings. He loved supporting them all in any way he could, being on the go continuously attending services, gatherings and his grandchildren's sporting events.


His passion was the time spent together. Through that he has passed on traditions and love of woodworking, carpentry skills, hunting, playing pinochle, and more, with his children and grandchildren. He kept busy with woodworking projects to bestow gifts such as rocking horses and cradles onto his grandchildren.


Children gravitated to Jim, and he was known in the family to be a "baby hog." He liked to ride motorcycle, travel, and build family traditions. He was a loving husband, always willing to tackle Jill's next project. When Jill would ask him to tear down a wall she had just asked him to put up, he would smile, shake his head, and get to work.


Jim passed away tragically in a farm accident on June 20, 2015. He is survived by his wife, Jill; children and their families; Lisa (Paul) Thienes; BreighAnna and Brooke, Oakdale, MN; Scott (Shelly) Kerzman; Zachary, Madison, and Nate, Becker, MN; Lynn (Ryan) Adelman; Joshua, Luke, Isaiah, and Lila, Boise, ID; Brad (Jody) Kerzman; Lexi, Jake, Lizzy, and Morgan, Bismarck, ND; David (Jessica) Kerzman; Kaden and Isaac, Fargo, ND; Kysa (Kale) Rasmussen; Christian, Aiden, and Isla, Sidney, MT; Kileigh (Jake) Maki; Ethan, Moorhead, MN; Nick (Emily) Gard; Genevieve and Catherine, Fargo, ND; Mathew Kerzman, Mandan, ND; Caleb "Festus" Gard (fiancé Amanda Felts), Fargo, ND; siblings, Jerome Kerzman, Mary Jo (Herb) Jenkins, Margaret Hollatz, Teresa (Al) Fliginger, Ann (Randy) Wilson, Anita (Ron) Friedt, Marella (Leland) Krein, Pete Kerzman, Madonna (Ed) Buth, Paula (Ronney) Sansom, Bill (DeAnn) Kerzman, Mary Beth Kerzman, May (Scott) Rodahl; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.


Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Ione Kerzman; first wife Lila; twin infant daughters Shelly and Sara; maternal and paternal grandparents; and brother, Tom Kerzman.


In lieu of flowers, a Memorial will be established by the Kerzman family.