Dr. M. James Simonson

Dr. M. James (Jim) Simonson, age 89, died Saturday August 19, 2023. He was born June 24, 1934, in Scobey, MT to Rev. Rudolph and Gladys Simonson, the youngest of four brothers.

Jim graduated from Sisseton High School in Sisseton, SD. It was during this time he met and continued to love his life-time companion, Shirley. In 1956 he graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where he played for the Concordia football team. He attended Northwestern University Medical School (currently the Feinberg School of Medicine) in downtown Chicago, IL. Shirley Koeppe graduated from Concordia College in 1957 and they married on June 22, 1957. After a one-year medical internship at Cook County Hospital, Jim, Shirley and daughter Ingrid were sent to Africa by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to begin a new mission field in Ethiopia. While in Ethiopia they had two more children, Matthew and Sonja. In 1966 they returned to Chicago where James finished a four-year residency in urology at Northwestern.

After residency, Jim practiced as a urologist for 15 years in Oshkosh, WI and ten years in Austin, MN, before returning to Oshkosh in 1995 to be with their children and grandchildren.

Jim was very active in church (men’s group, bible studies, Sunday School teacher, church council, choir) In retirement years, they did extensive foreign travel – 40 countries in total.

Jim is survived by his children: Ingrid (Jeff) Jorgenson, Matthew (Cheryl) Simonson, and Sonja Simonson; his grandchildren: Michael (Gustavo) Simonson, Sonya Robinson, Heidi Robinson, John (Britt) Simonson and Jessica Jorgenson; his great grandchildren: Mia, Kyra, McKenna, Marya, Jordy, Cobie and Kayleigh.

He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters-in-law, Audrey, Eunice, Bonnie Simonson.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Shirley (March 26, 2021) parents, Rudolph and Gladys Simonson; brothers, Luther, David and Paul Simonson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Helga Koeppe; brother-in-law, Delno Koeppe; sister-in-law, Barbara Hohertz.

Jim and family would like to sincerely thank Gabriel’s Villa, especially Rita, Molly and Tracy for taking such extra good care of him. Thank you to Michelle and Rick from Moments Hospice for the wonderful compassion and care you provided. All of you made dad feel so loved and special.

A funeral service will be held at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home, 100 Lake Pointe Dr., Oshkosh at 10:30 a.m. on Friday August 25, 2023, with Pastor Connie Weiss from Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. prior to the service. Burial followed at Riverside Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be sent to Global Health Ministries, 7831 Hickory St NE, Fridley, MN 55432 or Concordia College, 901 8th St S, Moorhead, MN 56562 for the Simonson Family Lecture Endowment.