Obituary of James Eklund Andreasen

James Eklund Andreasen, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, passed away on December 20, 2017. He was born on July 15, 1931 in St. Paul, Minnesota to his parents, Harry and Mildred Andreasen. He was 86 years of age.

James was raised in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1949. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He married Sharon Ann Reed and fathered his son, James Eric, while attending the University of Nebraska from 1953-1957.

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 BS 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/owning Quail Ridge Resort in Sedona, Arizona 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 contribution, he developed, owned and successfully operated Quail Ridge Resort in Sedona for 16 years before retiring to Lake Havasu City, Arizona 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 eleven 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.

James was preceded in death by parents, Harry and Mildred Andreasen; wife, Sharon Ann.

He is survived by sons, James Eric (Elizabeth Ann), Matthew Ross (Holly Kay); daughter, Sarah Reed (Timothy) Moser and ten grandchildren.

There will be a service at 11:00 am at Mount Olive Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 13, 2018 with a reception to follow.

Services were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. To send a free card to the family, go to www.sendoutcards.com/lietzfraze.