James Allen Hauer

James Hauer, 85 of Alexandria formerly of Miltona, passed away at his home on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria at 11:00 AM. A public visitation will take place on Sunday, June 22, 2025 at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria from 4:00 - 7:00 PM, with a Rosary beginning the service at 3:30 PM. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to services on Monday. Burial will be at St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery in Belle River following the funeral luncheon after the Funeral Mass on Monday.

James Allen Hauer was born on June 27, 1939, to Frank and Marian (Botzet) Hauer at home in Carlos Township, Minnesota. The youngest of three children, he attended District 64 Country School in Spruce Hill Township through the 8th grade.

He joined the United States National Guard in 1961 and served from 1962 until he was honorably discharged in 1964. He completed his training at the National Armory in Alex in 1967 while fencing with his father for Douglas County. 

After that, Jim spent the next several years trucking, hauling canned milk to the Miltona Creamery, bait to Fergus Falls, and grain to Glyndon. Later, he drove a bus for Alexandria School District 206 while working in carpentry with his father. After his father retired, Jim continued building, earning a reputation as a skilled and gifted craftsman. He built hundreds of homes around the lakes area before retiring in 2014, though he still took on small projects at home and for others. 

On March 5, 1962, Jim married Dolloween Brockopp at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Belle River. The couple welcomed their daughter, Sherie, in 1963. Lifelong best friends, they shared over 60 years of marriage, filled with love for family—especially their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

When not working or with family, Jim enjoyed Saturday morning coffee with his buddies at Brothers, working on his tractors, feeding squirrels, and tackling restoration projects. Many knew him as someone who could fix anything. 

In January 2025, Jim was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away suddenly at home on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Dolloween Hauer of Alexandria; daughter Sherie (Bruce) Lien of Miltona; grandchildren Kesha (Esham Smith) Lien of Minneapolis and Cody Lien of Miltona; great-grandchildren Rayleigh and Remington (Lien); sister-in-law Charlotte Hauer; and many beloved nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Marian Hauer; siblings Darold Hauer and Dorothy (Harvey) Wiswell; nephew Steven Wiswell; and niece Lori Thorson. 

A Christian Burial service is bring held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, MN, on Monday, June 23. His final resting place will be alongside his family at Belle River Cemetery.