James A. Rousseau

James Rousseau was born on April 27, 1925 in a log cabin his father built in Baudette, Minnesota. Three years later, his father homesteaded a farm near Waldron, Kansas and James helped with harvesting alfalfa, wheat and corn, along with attending to 1,200 head of cattle. He has three surviving siblings out of five. He attended a one-room schoolhouse. He attended seminary school, Phillips University, in Enid, Oklahoma and was an ordained minister for 17 years throughout Kansas and Oklahoma. He then moved to Chinle, AZ, on the Navajo Reservation in 1962 and received his Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling. He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 25 years supervising dormitory affairs. He was the chess coach there and was also a volunteer firefighter during that time. He retired in 1990 and moved to Albuquerque. He was a docent at the Museum of Natural History until the age of 85. He married his wife, Jeanne, on June 9, 1950. They were married for 58 years, until her death in 2008. He has two daughters, Mary and Lisa, who both live in Albuquerque, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was an active member of West Mesa Christian Church in Albuquerque for 20 years. His hobbies included gardening, coin and stamp collecting, traveling and being the best Dad and Grandfather in the world!
He passed away peacefully on September 29, 2015 surrounded by his loving family and Pastor. A Visitation will be held Friday, October 2, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at West Mesa Christian Church, 8821 Golf Course Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114. James will be laid to rest at Forest Park Cemetery in Anthony, Kansas on October 5, 2015.
FRENCH - Westside
9300 Golf Course Rd NW
505-897-0300