James Kirby (Jim) Blanchard

Blanchard NOTE SERVICE TODAY James (Jim) Kirby Blanchard, age 47, of St. Paul, died in the line of duty on December 11, 2002. He is survived by his loving wife, Cerise; son, Kyle; and daughter, Jenna. He is also survived by grandmother, Ann Christensen of Two Harbors; mother, Mary Ann Habash (husband Walter) of Lino Lakes; father, John E. ``Jack'' Blanchard (wife Edna) of Duluth; sisters, Elizabeth Blanchard of Lino Lakes, Anne Evans (husband Donathon and children Bud and John) of Losantville, Indiana, Katherine Finlayson (husband Raymond and children Robert and Rachael) of Lino Lakes, Lisa Gutowsky (husband Robb and children Claire, Lydia and Gerrit) of Edina, Kristen Blanchard of Duluth; mother-in-law, Lorraine Peterson of St. Paul; brother-in-law, Mark Peterson (wife Denise and children Ryan and Casey), and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was born in Duluth on October 30, 1955. Following his graduation from Duluth Cathedral High School in 1974, he moved to the Twin Cities in 1978 to attend 916 Vo-Tech in where he received EMT/Paramedic Certification. He spent his entire career with the Hennepin County Ambulance Service. Jim was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He will be deeply missed by his family and the EMS community. Services will held on Monday (TODAY), December 16th, at 1:00 pm at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Road, Edina (952-920-8515). Interment following the service will take place at Lakewood Cemetery, 36th and Hennepin in Minneapolis. A reception at the church will follow interment. At the families' request, memorials are preferred.

Published on December 13, 2002