Jim Klobuchar | |
---|---|
Born | James John Klobuchar April 9, 1928
Ely, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | May 12, 2021
Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S. | (aged 93)
Education |
Ely Junior College (
AA) University of Minnesota ( BA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Employer | Star Tribune |
Spouse |
Rose Heuberger
(
m. 1954;
div. 1976) |
Children | 2, including Amy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1950–1952 |
Rank | Corporal |
James John Klobuchar ( /ˈkloʊbətʃɑːr/ KLOH-bə-char; [1] April 9, 1928 – May 12, 2021) was an American journalist, author, and newspaper columnist from Minnesota. Klobuchar was regarded as a regionally well-known and admired local sports and politics reporter during his long career working for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. [2] [3]
Klobuchar notably was the first reporter in the country to declare John F. Kennedy's victory over Richard Nixon in the 1960 United States presidential election. [2] He was the father of Minnesota U.S. Senator and former Hennepin County attorney Amy Klobuchar.
Klobuchar was born in Ely, Minnesota, the son of Mary (Pucel) and Michael Klobuchar. [4] His grandparents were all from Slovenia, [5] and the surname Klobučar means "hatter" in Slovenian. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Ely Junior College (now Minnesota North College – Vermilion) in 1948 and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota in 1950.
Klobuchar served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952 and became a corporal. He worked as a wire editor for the Bismarck Tribune in North Dakota in 1950 and as a legislative reporter from 1952 to 1953. [6]
He worked as a staff writer for the Associated Press in Minneapolis from 1953 to 1961 and with the Minneapolis Tribune from 1961 to 1965. He became a columnist for the Minneapolis Star starting in 1965 where he covered sports and politics. [6]
Klobuchar married Rose Heuberger August 7, 1954 and had two children, Amy and Meagan. They divorced in 1976. He also was noted for his struggles with alcoholism. [7]
During much of his life Klobuchar was an avid cyclist, and led the "Jaunt With Jim" [8] group bicycle ride for 39 years.
Towards the end of Klobuchar's life, he had Alzheimer's disease. [9] He died at a care facility in Burnsville, Minnesota on May 12, 2021, at age 93. [10] Amy Klobuchar announced the death, saying about her father, "He loved journalism. He loved sports and adventure. And we loved him." [11] Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also paid tribute, stating "Our press community lost a giant in Jim Klobuchar's passing." [10] Plans were also made to bury him in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. [10] [12]
How [Amy] says it: KLŌ-bush-AR ... But her father, former Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar, pronounces it with a "ch" sound, as in cha-cha.
Jim Klobuchar | |
---|---|
Born | James John Klobuchar April 9, 1928
Ely, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | May 12, 2021
Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S. | (aged 93)
Education |
Ely Junior College (
AA) University of Minnesota ( BA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Employer | Star Tribune |
Spouse |
Rose Heuberger
(
m. 1954;
div. 1976) |
Children | 2, including Amy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1950–1952 |
Rank | Corporal |
James John Klobuchar ( /ˈkloʊbətʃɑːr/ KLOH-bə-char; [1] April 9, 1928 – May 12, 2021) was an American journalist, author, and newspaper columnist from Minnesota. Klobuchar was regarded as a regionally well-known and admired local sports and politics reporter during his long career working for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. [2] [3]
Klobuchar notably was the first reporter in the country to declare John F. Kennedy's victory over Richard Nixon in the 1960 United States presidential election. [2] He was the father of Minnesota U.S. Senator and former Hennepin County attorney Amy Klobuchar.
Klobuchar was born in Ely, Minnesota, the son of Mary (Pucel) and Michael Klobuchar. [4] His grandparents were all from Slovenia, [5] and the surname Klobučar means "hatter" in Slovenian. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Ely Junior College (now Minnesota North College – Vermilion) in 1948 and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota in 1950.
Klobuchar served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1952 and became a corporal. He worked as a wire editor for the Bismarck Tribune in North Dakota in 1950 and as a legislative reporter from 1952 to 1953. [6]
He worked as a staff writer for the Associated Press in Minneapolis from 1953 to 1961 and with the Minneapolis Tribune from 1961 to 1965. He became a columnist for the Minneapolis Star starting in 1965 where he covered sports and politics. [6]
Klobuchar married Rose Heuberger August 7, 1954 and had two children, Amy and Meagan. They divorced in 1976. He also was noted for his struggles with alcoholism. [7]
During much of his life Klobuchar was an avid cyclist, and led the "Jaunt With Jim" [8] group bicycle ride for 39 years.
Towards the end of Klobuchar's life, he had Alzheimer's disease. [9] He died at a care facility in Burnsville, Minnesota on May 12, 2021, at age 93. [10] Amy Klobuchar announced the death, saying about her father, "He loved journalism. He loved sports and adventure. And we loved him." [11] Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also paid tribute, stating "Our press community lost a giant in Jim Klobuchar's passing." [10] Plans were also made to bury him in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. [10] [12]
How [Amy] says it: KLŌ-bush-AR ... But her father, former Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar, pronounces it with a "ch" sound, as in cha-cha.