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Celebration of Life for Jim McChesney
February 15 @ 11:00am – 12:00pm
Celebration of Life for Jim McChesney
Visitation begins one hour prior at 10am.
“Buddy” was born on May 11, 1935, near Tulsa, Oklahoma. He grew up on a ranch in a strict, Methodist family. He and his two younger brothers rode horses, raised chickens, and hunted rattlesnakes. He loved playing with his cousins, attended a two room school, and earned his Eagle Scout Award. During high school, his family moved to the Chicago area, where he thrived and became the class valedictorian.
Jim attended Rice University in Texas, then moved to Aurora College in Illinois, when he felt called to do the work of the church. It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Margaret. After college, he attended Garrett Seminary and became an ordained minister.
Together they served small churches in Ringwood and Dixon, Illinois, where their children were born. Soon, Jim was called to be a youth pastor at Christ Church in Rochester, Minnesota. Six years later, he was sent to Fridley United Methodist Church in the Twin Cities. This is where Rev. Jim found his voice, giving progressive sermons based on the teachings of Jesus, Bonhoeffer, and Kierkegaard, and nurturing many on their faith journey to becoming “scientific, revolutionary Christians.”
After 17 years in Fridley, Jim left to do fundraising for the national United Methodist Church. He became pastor at First United Methodist Church in Racine, Wisconsin, then returned to the Twin Cities area to be close to his grandchildren. Back in Minnesota, Rev. Jim served at Inver Grove Heights and West Bethel United Methodist Churches. He also became a visitation minister at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, which allowed him to continue reaching out to others well into his retirement.
Jim’s boundless energy, outgoing persona, and passion for life extended far beyond the church. He connected people all over the world via ham radio as WAØPFV, served as the national president of Kiwanis International, traveled extensively, learned to fly small aircraft, sailed on the Great Lakes, celebrated the arts with Northland Rec Lab, and so much more. He loved photography, camping, skiing, reading, ceramics, and watercolor painting. He played the piano, violin, and guitar, and sang both hymns and folk music with gusto.
He lived life to the fullest, following the words of John Wesley to “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” He certainly did impact a lot of people during his time here on Earth, and is ready to go on to his next great adventure.
Jim is survived by his daughter Cindy McChesney Lundeen (Todd) and son Stephen Reid McChesney, grandchildren Tinah, Kristy, Bethany, Samantha, Sarah, and John, twelve great grandchildren, and his two brothers, John McChesney and Michael McChesney.
Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Margaret Berg McChesney and by his parents, James R. McChesney Sr. and Marjorie Baird McChesney.
A private burial was held by the family following his death, and a memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life will be held at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 15, 2025, with visitation at 10:00 and service at 11:00, followed by a luncheon at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church for their many ministries.
