James William Scharf

James William Scharf, (age 78) of Fargo, ND, passed away peacefully in his home June 10, 2018.

“Jim” lived a full life punctuated by hard work, travel, and family. Jim was born in Devils Lake, ND (1940), where he worked on the family farm and graduated from high school (1958). Jim enlisted in the US Air Force (1959), and between stations as far-flung as Turkey and Scotland, he arranged a visit with distant Scharf relatives in Germany. After discharge, Jim returned to Devils Lake where he met and married Lois Moen (1963). Devoted to home improvement, the couple moved about their home state from a little fixer-upper in Grand Forks to a bigger fixer-upper in Larimore to accommodate their growing family. All the while, Jim steadily improved each home and returned to the family farm twice each year to plant and harvest. Jim earned a degree in electronic technology at North Dakota State School of Science, and after a 33-year career as an electronic technician for Minnkota Power Cooperative in Grand Forks, Jim and Lois retired to Pagosa Springs, CO, where their custom-built home became a blank canvas for their polished home improvement skills. They combined lengthy planning sessions with ample elbow grease to create a beautiful mountain haven and happily hosted countless visit-vacations for their children and their families. But nostalgia for North Dakota farm country tempted Jim until it finally lured him back home in 2012.

Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lois, and their four children and their families: Robert and Jeannie Scharf (Covina, CA), whose family includes Travis and Jennifer Koehn and their boys, Tyler, Zachary and Drew, Brandon and Aura Scharf, and Kayla Scharf; Jon and Patty Scharf (Maple Grove, MN), whose family includes Matthew and Ben Scharf, and Kelsey and Emma Gavnik; Janna Scharf Manthei and Rick Engebretson (Fargo, ND), whose family includes Chad Manthei and fiancé Jordan Lee, and Jared and Corey Manthei; and Jason and Tracy Scharf (Stanwood, WA), whose family includes Jackson and Kate Scharf. Jim is also survived by his sister, Anne (Scharf) Heisler (Fargo, ND) and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret (Moritz) Scharf and sister Mary (Jim) Hendley.

Military rites will be provided by Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard and Fargo VFW, and grandson Jackson Scharf as honorary bugler.

Scattering of ashes shall be at the Scharf family farm in Devils Lake at a later date.

Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice of the Red River Valley, or to a charitable organization of choice.