Trucker, James Lyle

im was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Lyle and Gladys Trucker on September 3rd, 1935. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1953. Jim attended the University of Minnesota and graduated from Dunwoody Technical Institute in 1960.

James married Margaret Watson on July 25th, 1959, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and had three children, Robert, Janet and Daniel. Jim worked as an estimator and project manager for Axel Omen Concrete and Masonry after his studies at Dunwoody. He moved on and eventually worked for Sheehy Construction Company where he worked his way up from estimator/project manager to Vice President of Operations. He managed projects all over the country including the construction of the Federal Court House in Des Moines, IA and the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. In 1975, after 15 years working at Sheehy, Jim and Cy Sheehy formed the partnership of a new business venture, Trucker Sheehy Constructors, Inc. Trucker Sheehy was a very successful general contracting and real estate development firm and was at one time, considered one of the fastest growing firms of it’s type in Minnesota. There were offices in Minneapolis, MN, Denver, CO and Des Moines, IA and at its height, Trucker Sheehy employed over 600 office staff and trades people. Jim took tremendous pride in his business and his employees. In fact, Trucker Sheehy was the launching pad for a number of employees who eventually went on to own and operate their own successful General Contracting and Subcontracting firms in Minnesota. Jim took particular pride in the personal attention he paid to both clients and employees’ development. At its pinnacle, Jim personally reviewed and signed every employee’s paycheck, by hand, each week.

Jim served in the Air Force from 1953 to 1957 and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was stationed in Plattsburg, NY. and served as the Staff Sargent and a member of the ground crew on the B-47, Nuclear Bomber.

One of Jim’s greatest interests and joys included aviation where he earned his private pilots license in 1991. He enjoyed many solo flights and terrified his children on a few small group flights. From an early age, Jim took a great interest in travel, spending a summer in his late teens in Uppsala Sweden. In a student exchange program with his dear friend Bengt Mattsson, James worked on their family farm and enjoyed an amazing experience. The prior year, Bengt had visited Jim and his family in Minnesota for a summer to experience the American way of life. In later years, Jim and Bengt along with their wives and significant others continued their relationship with reciprocating visits with each other. He served as an early officer for MIDA, the Minnesota Industrial Development Association.  But Jim took greatest pride in his family, and grandchildren.

James was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Margaret Watson and his parents, Lyle and Gladys Trucker.

James is survived by his 3 children, Robert Michael Trucker, Janet Marie Trucker-Miawotoe (Felix), and Daniel James Trucker (Penny), grandchildren, Alyssa Miawotoe, Margaret and Owen Trucker, Brady and Hayley Binnebose, his sister Donna (Trucker) Vasiliades (Demetri), niece Anne Vasiliades-Endres (Scott and daughter Codie) and nephew Michael Vasiliades (Melissa and son Easton) and many other loving nieces and nephews on Margaret’s side of the family.

Pallbearers will be Robert Trucker, Daniel Trucker, Darrell Dansvy, Felix Miawote, and David McGowan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Twin Cities PBS 172 East 4th Street St. Paul, MN 55101.

The Trucker Family wishes to extend our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all those who cared for our father over the years, especially those in the last months of his life.

Jim had a very special friend, Joan Madison, who we all grew to love and respect. Joanie and Jim enjoyed many years of close friendship together. Whether it was dancing together in the kitchen, traveling to Sweden and around the States or just going out for dinner, they truly enjoyed each other for many years! I am very grateful to Joanie for all she did to take such wonderful care of our father and can never show her enough how much we love her and appreciate her.

The Trucker Family wishes to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who cared for our father over the years, especially those in the last months of his life. We would especially like to thank Dad’s companion and dear friend, Joan Madison for her ongoing love and care she gave Jim. For more details about Jim and his life, please visit Robert Trucker’s Facebook page!