James Andreasen
Services for James Andreasen, 86, of Lake Havasu City, AZ, were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, with a reception following. Mr. Andreasen died on Dec. 20, 2017. James Eklund was born on July 15, 1931, in St. Paul, MN, to Harry and Mildred Andreasen. He was raised in Des Moines, IA, and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1949. He served in the United States Marine Corps during de Korean Conflict. He married Sharon Ann Reed and fathered his son, James Eric, while attending the University of Nebraska from 1953 to 1957. James was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and the Alpha Kappa Psi Business and Professional Fraternity, graduating from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1957. His varied vocational pursuits were in principle geographical locations: Shell Oil Company in the Midwest until 1960, Motorola and subsequently building and owning Quail Ridge Resort in Sedona, AZ, from 1960-1994. He lived an invigorating but comfortable and productive life in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Carefree and Sedona. James raised three children and an assortment of dogs, bent on becoming the veterinarian’s annuity. He left the relative predictability of corporate life in 1978 and with the invaluable blessing and assistance of his “wherever thou goest” wife, lover, friend and helpmate, Sharon. Coupled with the children's unselfish contribu tion, he developed, owned and successfully operated Quail Ridge Resort in Sedona for 16 years before retiring to Lake Havasu City, AZ, in 1994. James enjoyed traveling whenever time permitted, and was enamored by Costa Rica and New Zealand. He succumbed to the RV lifestyle in the early 1970’s. He took several delightful and informative sojourns in the 11 western states before parting with the last rig (but not the itch) in 2003. Nevertheless, it bears repeating, “There’s no place like home,” and Arizona was home. He is survived by sons, James Eric (Elizabeth Ann) and Matthew Ross (Holly Kay), daughter, Sarah Reed (Timothy) Moser and 10 grandchildren. James was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Ann, and parents, Harry and Mildred Andreasen. Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at www.lietzfrazefuneralhome. com. To send a free card to the family, go to www.sendoutcards.com/lietzfraze.
