Jim Breidenbach

Richard James Breidenbach, 63, passed away peacefully at home from pulmonary fibrosis on Saturday, September 6, 2009. His wife and friends were at his side throughout his illness and at his time of death. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 12th at 11 am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Family and friends will gather at Eastgate Funeral Home on Friday, September 11th from 6 to 8 pm to celebrate his life. Jim was born on February 13th, 1946 in Dayton, Ohio to Karl Richard and Marian Breidenbach. He graduated from high school in Dayton and attended Wright State University. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967 and proudly served in Vietnam. After an honorable discharge, he lived in San Diego. He graduated from Chapman College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. He was a manufacturing manager for electronics companies in southern California. In 1984, Jim met the love of his life Kathleen Nordstrom in San Diego. They were married at St. Peters by the Sea Lutheran Church in Point Loma, California on May 6th, 1989. They enjoyed life together in Sioux Falls, SD; Chapel Hill, NC; Portland Oregon; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa before returning to Kathleen’s hometown of Bismarck in 2001. Jim earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, where he was able to pursue his life-long passion for painting. He especially excelled at landscape and still life oils on canvas and linen. Jim was an amazing man. He was a fabulous chef, much to the delight of his family and friends. He enjoyed creating and planning landscaping and remodeling projects in great detail and then seeing each project to completion. He was an avid reader, and those who knew him were always amazed at his wealth of knowledge and his ability to converse with others on a wide range of topics. He found beauty and fascination in the world around him, whether he was reading, gardening, traveling, painting, or sailing on San Diego Bay. However, he always felt that he made his biggest contribution by being a pillar of support for his wife as she cared for oncology patients. Friends describe Jim as “the husband that every woman should have”, “a Renaissance man”, and “a true gentleman”. “He was always encouraging others to expand their horizons and learn new things.” Jim is survived by his wife Kathleen Nordstrom Breidenbach; his brother David Breidenbach, San Diego; and five brothers-in-law Ronald Susan Florida, Donald Cindy, Iowa, Bob Joan, Bismarck, Dave Bismarck, and James Bernie, Kansas City; nieces and nephews, and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and in-laws Robert and Florence Nordstrom.

Jim Breidenbach

February 13, 1946 - September 6, 2009