Dr. James L. Donahue, DDS, Colonel (U.S. Army retired), a life rich of experience to be celebrated and remembered. A man who followed many paths as a career military officer, dentist and professor at the University of Minnesota.

He was born Oct. 30, 1923, in Twin Lakes to C. Leo Donahue and Ann Viner. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1940 and left the family farm to attend Creighton University (1945) and pursue dentistry. In 1947, he earned a D.D.S. from the University of Iowa and immediately began his career in the Army Dental Corps.

He served in Japan and Korea from 1947-1952. While at Tokyo general Hospital, he met his wife, Carol Haines, who was serving in the American Red Cross. They were married in 1952 in New York City and posted to SHAPE Headquarters Command near Paris, France, until 1956.

Jim’s military career included dental service commands in Stuttgart, Germany, and in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

In 1971, he was awarded the Legion of Merit and retired later that year. He began a career at the University of Minnesota Dental School and served for several years as Department Chair of Fixed Prosthodontics until his retirement in 1994.

Jim was a dedicated instructor, training dental students and earning recognition as Instructor of the Year for eight years.

He was a life member of the American academy of Fixed prosthodontics and the American Prosthodontic Society, as well as the John F. Johnson Society, Indiana University Dental School.

Jim was a lifelong sportsman in his early years, playing football at Creighton University and the University of Iowa and later coaching. After retirement, fly fishing, hunting and golf were his pursuits.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; son, Charles, daughter-in-law, Gina, and their sons, Karl and Kristian; son, Peter of Austin, Texas; brother, John Donahue and wife, Jeanelle, of Marietta, Ga.; and sister-in-law, Ruth Haines, of Northbrook, Ill.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at the Fort Snelling Chapel, Wednesday, April 6, at 12:30 p.m. followed by a reception at the Fort Snelling Officer’s Club.

Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers to North memorial Hospital Palliative Care, Attn: Caren, 3500 France Ave. N., Suite 101, Robbinsdale, MN, 55422.