James Glen Sanden, 85, of Princeton, Minn., passed away Monday, November 15, 2021 peacefully in St. Paul, Minn.
Jim was born on July 3, 1936, in Harmony, Minn., to Glen and Edith Sanden. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force. Jim worked as a welder at Hoffman Engineering in Anoka for 33 years. He married his wife Darlene in 1977; they were married for 39 years.
Jim was a collector and a woodworker. He always had a beautiful garden. He loved spending time at his cabin near Harmony, deer and squirrel hunting. Jim and Darlene loved to travel, they visited all 50 states together. Jim recently suffered from dementia; he spent the last eight months of his life in the full-time care of his grandson Cameren. Jim wanted his body donated to the Anatomy Bequest Program at the U of M.
Jim is survived by daughters Jennifer Sanden of St. Paul, Minn., Beth Sanden of Park City, Utah, and Vicki Sanden of Port St. Lucie, Fla., son Mark (Laura) Sanden of Apple Valley, Minn.; grandchildren Caitlyn, Cameren, Danielle, Jimmy, Jayden, Ashley, Sophie, Lauren, and Andrew; three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Jim is preceded in death by his beloved wife Darlene, his brothers John, Lyle, and Paul, and his son Arnold Meier.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2022, from 12-4 p.m. at Dock & Paddle, Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Parkway N,St. Paul, Minn. When he is done teaching medical students in June 2023, he will be laid to rest at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minn.