James David Heath

James Heath, of Dawson, died Friday, November 25, 2022 at his home in Dawson at the age of 79.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson.  Pastor Kendall Stelter will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 30, 2022 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson with a prayer service starting at 6:45 PM.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Arrangements are with Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson.  www.andersontebeest.com

James David Heath was born June 29, 1943 in Montevideo MN, to David and Audrey (Haakenson) Heath. He was Baptized and Confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. James attended school in Montevideo, MN until 11th grade, Jim completed high school at Mankato High in the class of 1962. He married Marlys Storlien on July 11, 1964 and they have 2 children, Amy (Heath) Botzet and Matthew Heath. Jim worked at various gas stations and garages as an attendant and mechanic. He was the manager of a Holiday Service Station in Delavan, WI.  Jim worked at Landon’s Pet Food Factory as a maintenance worker. They moved back to Dawson, MN. In 1976 and He worked at Brandon Tires in Montevideo for a few months and then went to work as a truck driver at Dawson Mills, now known as AGP.  He then went to work as a truck driver for Olson Sanitation.  

Jim enjoyed hunting and fishing and especially camping.  He enjoyed driving his motorcycle. Jim belonged to a bowling league in Mankato. Jim and Marlys enjoyed square dancing and belonged to the Dawson Dudes and Dolls Square Dance Club.  Jim was a Boy Scout leader and helped them give pontoon rides on the river during Riverfest. They became interested in model railroading and Jim built a layout in their basement.  He started helping his father David with his antique gas engines which led to joining the Minnesota Valley Farm Power and Machinery Assoc. by Montevideo.  Jim, David, and Marlys built a model railroad at Heritage Hill East of Montevideo.  They ran it every year for 20 years during the annual show.  He loved to do things for kids so he built a train ride out of barrels and made a train engine out of a John Deere riding mower.   Jim enjoyed giving the kids rides at the Heritage Hill show with the help of his grandson, Brandon.

He loved building things and was always thinking of things to do. He could do anything he set his mind to do, from mechanics to carpenter. Jim loved spending time with his brothers, children and grandchildren and took several trips to spend time with them.  He especially enjoyed the times everyone came home to visit and it became a family gathering place. Later on in life his favorite past time was testing his luck at the casino.

Jim is survived by his wife, Marlys, Children Amy (Tom) Botzet of WV, and Matthew (Christi) Heath of Clements MN, 4 grandchildren, Justin (Susan) Botzet of California, Angie Botzet and special friend, Stone Bellamy of WV, Brandon Heath and special friend, Madison Matlock of Foley MN, Sara (Justin) McDaniel of NY, step grandsons, Michael Gratz of Alabama, and Gavin Gratz of MN, brother Michael Heath of Arizona, sisters-in-law Mary Ellen Storlien and Doris Storlien and 6 nephews and 2 nieces and their families and 1 step sister.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Audrey and David, and step mother Wanda, granddaughter, Megan Botzet, brother Charles and his wife Dianne. Brothers –in-law Wayne Storlien and LeRoy Dean Storlien. Step sisters Ricky Erikson and Sandi Oglesby.