James Randolph Marshall

About the Company

James Randolph Marshall, 75, of Ridgewood Road, was born August 30, 1931, in Duluth, Minnesota. He was a man with a big heart and was proud of being a lifelong Duluthian. He died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006, at Franciscan Health Center, Duluth.

Jim was a graduate of Duluth Central High School, class of 1949. He was a graduate of the University of Omaha, 1954. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force and was a veteran of the Korean War.

Jim was a salesman extraordinaire for Thermofax machines, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and Columbia Steel Casting Company. He and his wife, Beverly, owned and operated Chippewa Camping Outfitters. He is remembered as the first Bombardier Ski-Doo snowmobile dealer in the United States. Jim outfitted and guided numerous canoe trips into the BWCAW. He also operated a scuba diving shop in Duluth. From 1968 until his retirement in 2003, he worked for Columbia Steel Casting Company.

He was a charter member of Skyline Rotary, Sept. 1972, with 25-plus years of perfect attendance. He was a member of the Society of Mining Engineers, American Institute of Mining Engineers, Palestine Lodge No. 79, A.F. and A.M. Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Duluth, Kitchi Gammi Club, Isle Royale Boaters Association, Isle Royale Family and Friends Association. Jim was the captain of his own boat, Skipper Sam II. He was a lifetime member of Duluth Power Squadron and was Port Captain for Duluth for the Great Lakes Cruising Club.

Captain Jim was the proud co-owner and chairman of Lake Superior Port Cities Inc., publisher of Lake Superior Magazine. His knowledge of Lake Superior, storytelling abilities and sense of humor were legendary. He traveled widely over Lake Superior and the hospitality of Skipper Sam II was well known in every port he visited. He contributed a bimonthly column in Lake Superior Magazine called “Lake Superior Journal.” He authored the book Lake Superior Journal and was author/contributor and editor of the book Shipwrecks of Lake Superior. His efforts were recognized this year with the Labovitz Lifetime Achievement Award by the UMD Center for Economic Development.

Jim was preceded in death by parents, Mildred and Rand Marshall; first wife, Beverly (Erickson) in 1976; son, Randy Marshall in 1993.

He is survived by his wife, Jan Biga, who he married in 1991; sister, Marjorie Eckstrom of Port Isabel, Tex.; daughters, Cindy (Paul) Hayden of Two Harbors, Minn., Bonnie (Jan) Reyers of Afton, Minn.; daughter-in-law Jackie (Dave) Smith of Duluth; step-daughters, Kay (Patrick Spott) Biga of Duluth, Tracy (Duncan) MacLean of Claremont, Calif.; grandchildren, William (Becky) Marshall of Coon Rapids, Minn., Jacquelyn “JJ” (Jim) Fortin of Superior, Wis., Eric Reyers of Los Angeles, Calif., Kent Reyers of Hudson, Wis., Anne Reyers of Afton, Minn., Robert Hayden of Madison, Wis., Scott (Ginger) Hayden of St. Louis, Mo., Emily, Hal and Leo Spott of Duluth, Paul MacLean of Claremont, Calif.; mother-in-law Myrtle Wicklund of Duluth; six great-grandchildren, Justin, Josie, Nicholas, Tanner, Rianna and Corrina Rose; and four nieces.

The family is grateful for his excellent care at the Franciscan Health Center, Park Point, Duluth. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Jan, family, friends and readers.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pike Lake Presbyterian Church, 5611 Martin Road, with visitation one hour prior at the church. Visitation will also be held Tuesday, 5-7 p.m. in the Bell Brothers Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, with military honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard. If so desired, memorials may be directed to the Rotary Foundation, c/o Skyline Rotary Club @ Wherley, 4845 Miller Trunk Hwy., Hermantown, Minn. 55811.