James M. Modderman
Nov. 7, 1951 – Oct. 5, 2024
James Michael Modderman, 72, of Brownsville, Ore., a former helicopter logger and commercial fisherman on the Oregon coast, passed away peacefully in hospice care at Helping Hearts on Oct. 5, 2024.
He was born Nov. 7, 1951, in Albert Lea, Minn. to Russell and JoAnn (Floyd) Modderman.
He graduated from Albert Lea High School in June 1971 and married Marian E. Johnson on Nov. 27, 1971, in Hartland, Minn. James served in the Army and was stationed in Bauholder, Germany from 1971-1973. He attended community college in Albert Lea to study wastewater management.
In 1975, James and Marian moved to the central Oregon coast and raised two children. James was one of the first in the helicopter logging industry cutting cedar. He also owned and operated a commercial bay crabbing boat and worked on commercial fishing boats off the Oregon coast.
In 1989 James and his family moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family. He returned to the Yachats-Waldport area in 2007 and in 2021 he moved to Brownsville.
He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, motocross racing, snowmobiling, arrowhead/rock/agate hunting, liked going to auctions, traveling, boating, and camping.
He is survived by his daughter Melanie Modderman; a son Robert Modderman (Jesse); brother, Richard Modderman; grandchildren: Tyler Anderson (Darien), Wyatt Sickels, Dominic Modderman, Jayden Modderman, Cameron Sickels, Elizabeth Modderman, Samuel Modderman; great granddaughter Aria Foerster, great granddaughter Blake Anderson coming next month; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and JoAnn Modderman; a sister, LeeAnn Modderman, and a granddaughter, Kelsey Modderman.
A special thank you to his friends David Dorman and Mike McGuire for visiting him weekly, and to Helping Hands and Samaritan Evergreen Hospice for taking such great care and loving him.