On May 17, 2024, James Myrl Rislove passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and listening to his favorite music, after a three-year battle with multiple myeloma.
Jim was born to Jack and Sheila (Buckingham) Rislove on May 4, 1961, in Winona, Minn. He was raised in Rushford, Minn., where he grew up riding bike, playing baseball, and running the streets with his buddies. In school he met the love of his life, Kriste Sand. The two were wed in marriage on December 1, 1984. They raised three children Leah, Tony and Laura. Throughout their childhood Jim spent many days playing catch, taking them camping, teaching them to hunt and fish, attending all of their activities and sporting events and making them push mow the four acre lawn with hundreds of trees. He gave his kids a lot of advice over the years and always considered these “teaching moments.” He also had so many Dadisms that we filled a book. Not a day goes by where we don’t quote one of his Dadisms. Jim graduated from Winona State University in 1983 with a Social Science/Sociology major and a Business minor. He held a number of jobs over his career including Photo File, Wincraft, driving school bus, subbing at area schools, coaching R-P baseball and finally, retiring from Fastenal. He ran his own business, Licensed Products Marketing through Photo File from his home. While working out of his home, he liked the schedule but loved the dress code. A lot of Jim’s time was spent playing softball, bowling, attending sporting events, camping, hunting, fishing, riding motorcycle, golfing, watching NASCAR and PGA bowling and biking. He enjoyed trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and armchair coaching the Vikings and Twins. His garden grew exponentially over the years and everything he planted thrived. He would end up sharing produce with everyone. Although he had a lot of hobbies and things he enjoyed, he especially enjoyed all the times with Kriste. They traveled a lot throughout their married life and did not stop traveling in the past few years. They went to Mississippi, San Francisco and even attended the blizzard bowl Buffalo/Minnesota game in Buffalo 2022 (along with seeing Niagara Falls). Jim loved spending time with his grandkids and tried to make it to everything they did. It was difficult for him to miss out on anything when his immune system was so compromised.
Jim was blessed with nine grandchildren, including the newest born just 11 days before he passed. When he found out his cancer had returned and spread in October, his goal was to meet his youngest grandchild. He met his goal and was beyond proud to be able to hold her. He was surrounded by his family until the very end.
Jim is survived by his wife Kriste, children Leah (Darrin) Dessner, Tony (Katie) Rislove, and Laura (Adam) VanGundy; grandkids Jack, Hank, Adella, Eleanor, Harrison, Lincoln, Zoey, Avery and Liana; brother John (Kim), Richard and Helen Sand, Karen and Mike Benson, Kathy and Bryan Peterson, Susie and Dave Olson, Ron and Tina Sand, Bob and Mary Sand, Valerie and Gene Mollet, and Irene Buckingham; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, godchildren, his black lab Clancy and many, many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Sheila Rislove.
His family will be forever grateful for the care and kindness he received from Dr. Ben Parsons at Gundersen, along with the rest of the medical teams at Gundersen and Mayo. He also was treated with so much respect and dignity from St. Croix Hospice. Jim’s home is bountiful with plants, trees and flowers. If you would prefer to make a donation, the family was greatly assisted by the following: Paula’s Purse, Hope Lodge, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Cancer Legal Care or give blood. All money donated directly to the family will be dispersed to these causes.
Memorial service will be 11 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024, at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service – Rushford. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Thursday and one hour prior to the service, all at the funeral home. Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service – Rushford is assisting the family with arrangements.
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