James “Jim” Hundley, 85, of Rochester, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2017 at his home.  Cause of death was ALS/Lou Gehrig Disease.

Jim was born May 31, 1932 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Dr. John L. Hundley and Olive Gower Hundley.  He married Elaine Helbling on September 7, 1954 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Mandan, ND.  Jim graduated from Grand Forks Central High School. At the University of North Dakota he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Microbiology.  He earned the Master of Science degree in Public Health Administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and also did studies at CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.

He was a member of Sigma Xi, International Science Honor Society and a member of Sigma Chi fraternity at UND.

Jim worked as a chemist for AGSCO in Grand Forks, ND and was a microbiologist at ND Public Health laboratories at the University of North Dakota from 1955 until 1968 until moving to Illinois where he was Director of the Public Health Laboratory in Champaign. In 1971 he moved to Rochester and was Director of the Public Health Laboratories in Springfield, Chicago and Carbondale.

Jim was first and foremost a dedicated family man.  He was a gentleman and a scholar, an avid reader, a gardener, cook, birdwatcher, hunter, outdoorsman, enjoyed classical music and the solitude of his woods. He was instrumental in helping establish St. Jude Church in Rochester and was a member of Rochester Historical Society, Friends of the Rochester Library, National Rifle Association, North American Hunting Club and a founding member of the St. Jude's Men's Poker Group.

Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elaine; children, Mary Jo (Charlie) Ruether, Leslie Pawlowski, Jamie (Bob) Penrod, John J. (Paula) Hundley, and Rachel (David) Hendee; grandchildren, Sarah and Anne Thatcher, Zach and Kelsey Pawlowski, Zoey and Bailey Hamilton, Joshua Hundley, and Justin Hendee; great-grandchildren, Rory Robinson and Olivia Thatcher, and Lexi and Macy Pawlowski.  He is also survived by sister-in low, Carol Hundley; niece, Lisa Hundley Wheeler, nephew, J. Eric Hundley and special Gower, Cole and Douglass cousins.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Dr. John Gower Hundley.

Memorial Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 633 S. Walnut, Rochester, with Deacon Tom Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Buckhart Cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to lunch at St. Jude Parish Hall immediately following.

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