James Tessmer

James Tessmer, 62, Bismarck, ND, died July 11, 2016, in his home in Bismarck. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 16, at 11:00 AM at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Jim was born December 30, 1953, in Sumner, IA , to Archie and Mildred (Barth) Tessmer. He was baptized in May of 1959 in Sumner, Iowa. He was confirmed in Campbell, MN, in 1968. On June 2, 1972, he graduated Campbell High School and then attended the University of Minnesota – Crookston where he earned an Associate of Applied Science in Agricultural Business. Following his time at Crookston, he was a Salesman for Fieldcrest Fertilizer in Campbell, MN. He later went to North Dakota State University and earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. On Oct. 1st, 1983, he married Kari Plagge in Killdeer, ND, and began his career as an Agricultural banker. He worked for Norwest Bank in Wahpeton, ND, from 1982 to 1992, before moving his family to Casselton, ND. While in Casselton he worked for Bremer Bank until 1999. The new millennium brought new opportunities for him and he moved his family to Mandan, ND, to begin a new job with the North Dakota Rural Rehabilitation Corporation, where he worked until his death. An active outdoorsman, he was involved throughout his life in various wildlife and conservation clubs, taking great pleasure in hunting and fishing with friends and family. He is survived by his mother, Mildred Tessmer, Fargo, ND; children, a daughter Elizabeth Tessmer, Bismarck, ND; a son, Sean Tessmer, Minneapolis, MN; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Norma Tessmer, Fargo, ND; Karen and Daniel Jensen, Wahpeton, ND; Patricia and Steve Krebs, Wahpeton, ND. He was preceded in death by his father, Archibald Tessmer.