James "Jim" O'Toole

James Jim OToole, 84 year old resident of Little Falls, MN, died Monday, March 17 at St. Ottos Care Center in Little Falls, MN. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 11:000 a.m. at St. Marys Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Nicholas Landsberger officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church in Little Falls, MN.The burial will be held in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN, at a later date.

James Bernard OToole was born on August 30, 1929 in St. Paul, MN.His adoptive parents were Michael and Marcella OToole.Jim attended public grade school and graduated from Cretin High School in 1947.He earned undergraduate degrees from St. Paul Seminary and University of St. Thomas.He later earned graduate degrees from University of St. Thomas, University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, and U.S. Naval War College.He was united in marriage to Patricia Patton at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in St. Paul on September 15, 1953.Jim served on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1952 until 1958.Jim remained active in the Naval Reserve until retirement in 1990.Upon release from active naval duty, he entered the field of public education.He was a teacher and coach in Roseville and assistant principal and athletic director in Brooklyn Center.He moved to Little Falls in 1969 and served successively as Jr. High principal, middle school principal, and Director of Human Resources until retirement in 1992.Jim was active in the community, belonging to Chamber of Commerce, United Way Board of Directors, Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis, Lions, and professional organizations, e.g. Reserve Officer Assn., State and National Principals Assn., was co-founder of MN Middle School Assn., State and National Curriculum Development Assn.He also served on the Morrison County Transportation and Public Health Advisory Committees.He served as a hospitality volunteer, admissions volunteer, and patient advocate at St. Gabriels Hospital.He served St. Marys Church as a CCD teacher, usher, Eucharistic Minister, and Pastoral Council member.He also was a member of the St. Cloud Diocesan Board of Education for 8 years, and was the diocesan representative on the MN Catholic Conference-Education Division.Jim enjoyed spending time with family, reading, flying, golf, biking, and Navy.

Jim is survived by wife Patricia of Little Falls; daughters Catherine Rose and husband Dana, Michelle Schneider and husband Ron, Cheryl OToole, Mary OToole, Therese Serum and husband Greg, Frances Corcoran and husband John, Shannon OToole; sons James OToole, Jr., Steven OToole and wife Jill; 16 grandchildren Amber Jay and husband Ryan, Scott Rose and wife Jessica, Tony Manelli, Dominic Manelli and wife Heather, Christina Manelli, Ariel Bentley, Miles Bentley, Daniel Manelli, Maxwell Bentley, Logan Serum, Bailey Serum, Sean Corcoran, Caitlin OToole, Andrew Corcoran, Calley OToole, and Dylan Corcoran; great-grandchildren Carson James; sister Mrs. Patricia Moody.He was preceded in death by his mother, Marcella and father, Michael.