James D. 'Jim' Karvonen

DULUTH, Minn. - James D. "Jim" Karvonen, 58, of Superior, Wis., died Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, following a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born on Nov. 8, 1955, in Ironwood, Mich., to Donald and Virginia (Mazzon) Karvonen.

In 1973, he graduated from Luther L. Wright High School, where he was a member of the golf team. Jim got his first hole-in-one on the 155-yard 13th hole during a 1972 high school golf tournament in Iron Mountain, Mich.

He married Debra "Debbie" Sunie on Oct. 10, 1981, and recently celebrated 32 years of marriage.

Jim worked in the automotive parts industry for 38 years. He started out stocking shelves at O.K. Auto Parts and worked his way up to general manager at Republic Automotive Parts. Most recently, he was a regional manager at APH. He was a hard worker and was always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.

Jim continued to enjoy golf throughout his life and participated in many golf tournaments, including the Best Ball Tournament in Ironwood and the Parent-Child Tournament in Superior. Jim loved trail biking with his wife, Debbie, throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, Michigan Wolverines, professional golf and NASCAR.

Jim also loved the Christmas season, and he won two awards for his outdoor decorating skills. In 2008, he won the Chamber of Commerce Spirit Award, and in 2010, he won the Masters Division Award.

In addition to his wife, Debbie, Jim is survived by one daughter, Danielle "Dani" Karvonen, Superior; his parents; two sisters, Lynn (Chuck) Meister, Duluth, and Karen (Bill) Salvesen, Wausau, Wis .; two nieces, Kristin Meister and Nicole (Travis) Calvert; and one nephew, Danny (Laura) Meister.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, James and Amelia Mazzon; and his paternal grandparents, John and Vienna Karvonen.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, at the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. Fifth St., Superior.

Visitation will continue at 9:30 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at First Presbyterian Church, 205 Fourth Ave. S., Hurley, Wis., with the Rev. Don Nickolson officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jim's two brothers-in-law, Chuck Meister and Bill Salvesen, and friends, Greg Campbell and Steve Beckman. Inurnment will take place at the Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood at a later date.

To send a condolence or sign the online guest book, visit lenroot-maetzold.com.